OpenAI says 18- to 24-year-olds account for nearly 50% of ChatGPT usage in India | TechCrunch

TechCrunch

by Ivan Mehta

February 20, 2026

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OpenAI has revealed that 18- to 24-year-olds account for nearly 50% of ChatGPT usage in India, with users under 30 making up 80% of all interactions. This highlights the platform’s strong appeal among younger demographics in the country. The company shared this data during a tech event in Boston, emphasizing that Indians use ChatGPT primarily for professional tasks, such as work-related inquiries and coding assistance. Notably, OpenAI’s coding assistant, Codex, is being used three times more frequently by Indian users compared to the global average, with weekly usage increasing fourfold since the release of its Mac app. The data aligns with findings from Anthropic, which reported that 45.2% of Claude AI tasks in India are related to software development. OpenAI attributes this surge in demand to strategic partnerships and localized efforts. For instance, the company has collaborated with major Indian conglomerates like Tata Group, TCS, Ixigo, MakeMyTrip, Pine Labs, and Eternal, as well as educational institutions, to distribute its tools widely. Additionally, OpenAI offers an affordable subscription tier in India, priced below $5, and has run promotional campaigns to boost adoption. India is now OpenAI’s second-largest market globally, with over 100 million weekly users. The company has also expanded its presence by opening new offices in Mumbai and Bengaluru and launching initiatives like the ChatGPT Enterprise program through Tata Group. These efforts underscore OpenAI’s commitment to tail

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Originally published on TechCrunch on 2/20/2026