'Super cool discussion': India will collaborate with OpenAI to build entire AI stack, reveals Ashwini Vaishnaw after meeting Sam Altman

Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has stated that OpenAI plans to collaborate with India on the entire AI stack following his discussion with CEO Sam Altman in Delhi today.

"Had a super cool discussion with Sam Altman on our strategy of creating the entire AI stack—GPUs, models, and apps. Willing to collaborate with India on all three," Vaishnaw posted on his social media handle on X.

"PM Narendra Modi ji guides us to democratise technology. Sam appreciated PM's vision," Vaishnaw added in another post in the same thread on X.

While Sam Altman has yet to update his followers on social media about his rushed visit to Delhi, today’s trip marks a notable shift from his earlier stance. Altman had previously remarked that developing economies like India could barely contribute to global AI capabilities.

At a closed-door panel today, Fortune India learned that Altman addressed his 2023 remark, stating that it was taken entirely out of context.

Altman added that India is now OpenAI’s second-largest market after the US and should focus on building foundational LLMs that can address population-scale problems.

Last month, OpenAI announced the massive Stargate project, a $100 billion initiative aimed at building advanced AI infrastructure in the US. Backed by Microsoft and SoftBank, the project focuses on developing next-generation data centres equipped with cutting-edge semiconductor technology to power future AI models.

Addressing questions about the high costs of AI development, especially in contrast to DeepSeek, which reportedly built one of its reasoning models, V3 and R1, for around $5.3 billion, Altman stated that innovation costs will eventually decline. While expenses remain high for now, he emphasised that the immense value created by these advancements justifies the investment.

While the latest Budget did not announce a revised outlay for the country’s flagship India AI mission, the Centre continues to host key gatherings with global AI stakeholders. On February 3, PM Modi stated in Parliament that the country enjoys the power of double AI—"One being that of Artificial Intelligence and the other being that of Aspirational India."

Altman will reportedly meet PM Modi today. This would be his second meeting with the prime minister, following their first in July 2023.