OpenAI has decided to store the data of Indian users of ChatGPT Enterprise, ChatGPT Edu, and the OpenAI API Platform within India. This move helps Indian businesses and institutions follow the country’s data sovereignty laws while they use OpenAI’s tools.
Indian users of ChatGPT Enterprise and ChatGPT Edu will now have all their interactions stored locally. This includes chats, uploaded files, and content with text, images, or visual elements. OpenAI will store this data securely on servers based in India to meet local storage requirements
Meanwhile, businesses using the OpenAI API Platform can also opt for local data storage. They can do this by starting a new project on the API dashboard and choosing India as the region for data residency. OpenAI clarified that once selected, the data will be stored within that chosen region.
OpenAI was working on setting up data center operations in India. This was part of its larger effort to handle the growing number of users and expanding applications of its AI tools across the country.
India has rapidly become OpenAI’s second-largest user base. In fact, the number of users in India tripled in 2024 alone. During his visit to India in February, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman expressed admiration for the innovation happening in the country. He noted that people in India are building impressive AI applications at every level—from hardware and models to software solutions.
“India is doing it all—building chips, creating models, and developing incredible applications. It’s really inspiring to see how much the country has embraced AI,” Altman said during his visit on February 5.
