UPDATE: OpenAI has just launched its new subscription plan, ChatGPT GO, in India, priced at an astonishingly low ₹399 per month (approximately $4.60). This development comes as a response to user demand for more affordable options, significantly undercutting the existing Plus Plan, which costs ₹1,999 (around $23) per month.
The introduction of ChatGPT GO marks a pivotal moment for users in India, enabling them to access enhanced features including 10 times higher message limits, 10 times more image generations, and 10 times more file uploads. Moreover, subscribers will benefit from twice the memory retention compared to the free tier, allowing for more personalized interactions.
Nick Turley, VP at OpenAI and head of ChatGPT, stated, “We just launched ChatGPT GO in India… making ChatGPT more affordable has been a key ask from users! We’re rolling out GO in India first and will learn from feedback before expanding to other countries.” Users can conveniently pay through UPI (Unified Payment Interface), India’s popular digital payment framework.
This launch comes on the heels of significant growth for OpenAI, with Turley noting that ChatGPT now boasts over 700 million weekly users globally, up from 500 million in March 2023. The app has experienced a surge in popularity in India, with over 29 million downloads in just the last 90 days, according to AppFigures. However, despite this impressive download rate, the app generated only $3.6 million in revenue from Indian users during that same period.
The competitive landscape in India’s AI sector is heating up, with other companies also vying for a share of the country’s vast internet user base of over 850 million. Last month, Perplexity collaborated with Airtel to offer free Pro subscriptions, while Google launched a free AI Pro plan for students in India for one year. OpenAI’s strategic pricing with the ChatGPT GO plan is expected to drive subscription conversions, making it more accessible.
As OpenAI tests this groundbreaking pricing model in India, industry experts are closely watching how this move will influence the market and consumer behavior in the region. The ChatGPT GO plan is anticipated to attract a broader audience, encouraging more users to take advantage of ChatGPT’s advanced features.
What’s Next? As the rollout progresses, users and analysts alike will be eager to see how feedback from the Indian market will shape OpenAI’s future strategies, particularly in expanding this model to other countries. The response from users in India will likely set the tone for OpenAI’s next steps in global markets.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops!
