New Delhi, Sept. 1 -- When OpenAI announced recently that ChatGPT would be formally available in India at Rs.399 a month, it was significant because that small fee grants access to a tool seen as cutting-edge but somewhat out of reach for daily users. What was a curiosity is now a regular fixture in Indian digital life.

This is not just a pricing move-it's a strategic shift that opens the gates to one of the world's most dynamic internet user bases. With nearly 800 million users online, India ranks second only to China, but it differs in one critical respect: it is wide open to global platforms. There are no Great Firewalls or mandated domestic clones. Instead, international apps and services compete openly.

For OpenAI, India represents...