As the AI wave accelerates globally, OpenAI has identified India as one of the world’s most advanced artificial intelligence markets, driven by strong engagement in coding, data analysis, and complex reasoning tasks, though adoption remains largely concentrated in major urban centres.
In its first “Capability Gap” assessment for India, the company placed the country among the global top five for “thinking capability usage per person,” a metric based on reasoning tokens used by ChatGPT Plus users. The findings also suggest that Indian users are increasingly leveraging AI tools for sophisticated problem-solving and advanced, multi-step workflows.
"The central question now is how quickly the benefits of AI can extend beyond early adopters and leading cities to the wider population," said Oliver Jay, Managing Director (International) at OpenAI, adding that expanding access and building skills will be key to bridging the gap.
Indian users are increasingly relying on AI tools to solve complex problems and support advanced workflows, with India also emerging as one of the fastest-growing AI builder ecosystems. OpenAI noted that its Codex developer tool saw a fourfold increase in usage within two weeks of its launch in February 2026, alongside strong engagement in coding and data analysis tasks.
The top 10 Indian cities account for around 50% of all AI users, despite making up less than 10% of the population
Delhi NCR leads the country in ChatGPT penetration
Advanced usage is highly uneven: data analysis activity is up to 30x higher in leading cities than in lagging regions
Coding usage is about 4x higher in top cities
AI developer tools like Codex show a ninefold usage gap between advanced and lagging regions
Key tech hubs driving adoption include Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi, and Chennai
OpenAI highlights a growing “capability gap,” observing that advanced AI usage remains heavily concentrated in urban areas. The company states that future growth will hinge on improved access, lower costs, stronger language support, and the development of partnerships and local programs.
Outside India’s major metropolitan areas, AI adoption is increasingly taking hold in smaller states, particularly in the education and healthcare sectors. Education-related use is notably higher in states such as Assam, Odisha, Manipur, Tripura and Chhattisgarh, with Assam at 22%, significantly exceeding the national average. Healthcare-related queries are also more prominent in regions like Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Kerala, with nearly one in ten messages from J&K linked to health concerns.