Millions of people in India are now receiving a full year of free access to the new ChatGPT Go chatbot, marking the latest push by global AI companies to tap into one of the world’s largest digital markets. Similar offers have recently come from other major players, as Google and Perplexity introduced free or discounted AI tools through partnerships with leading Indian telecom operators. Perplexity has partnered with Airtel, while Google has joined hands with Reliance Jio to bundle AI services with monthly data packs.
Industry analysts say these offers are strategic investments designed to build long term habits among users in India. According to Tarun Pathak from a research firm, the aim is to familiarise people with generative AI and encourage them to eventually pay for these tools. He says India provides an unmatched scale with more than 900 million internet users, most of them under the age of 24. Experts note that India’s open digital environment gives global firms an advantage, allowing them to reach millions of users at a time and gather diverse first-hand data that helps improve AI models.
However, these rapid expansions raise concerns about user data and privacy. Technology analyst Prasanto K Roy says people have always exchanged personal data for convenience and free services, and this pattern will continue. He believes authorities will need to strengthen regulation as more users share large amounts of personal information. India currently lacks a dedicated artificial intelligence law. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 has been cleared but is yet to be implemented and experts say its rules do not fully cover AI systems or algorithmic accountability.
Despite this, India remains an attractive market for free AI bundles because of its flexible regulatory space, unlike regions such as the European Union or South Korea where strict compliance norms make such programs harder to launch. Analysts say India must improve user awareness and frame smarter rules without slowing innovation. For global AI companies, the hope is that India’s growing digital population will follow patterns seen in earlier tech waves when discounted internet services brought millions online. As Tarun Pathak explains, even if only 5 percent of free users eventually switch to paid plans, the sheer size of the market makes it a significant opportunity.
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