AI Giants Offer Freebies to Win Over India's Market

OpenAI, Google, and Perplexity are using free subscriptions to capture the AI market in India, a vital strategy for acquiring diverse training data. India's vast user base and linguistic diversity offer a unique advantage for refining AI models. However, these freebies raise concerns about data privacy.

OpenAI, Google, and Perplexity are waging a fierce battle for dominance in India's artificial intelligence sector by offering lucrative free subscription plans. This tactic aims not only to attract users but also to acquire a wealth of multilingual data from the world's most populous nation.

India's expansive AI landscape is becoming the focal point for these tech titans, leveraging the country's massive smartphone user base and affordable data costs. Google initiated this trend by offering the $400 Gemini AI Pro subscription for free to 500 million Reliance Jio customers. OpenAI followed suit, making its ChatGPT Go plan available at no charge for a year, spurring an increase in daily active users in India.

The strategy is not without its critics, as experts highlight the potential risks associated with data privacy. While users like PhD student Anees Hassan benefit from these free services, there is a growing awareness of the data harvesting implications tied to such offers. Despite the concerns, India's AI user base continues to expand, providing valuable insights into diverse communication patterns for AI model refinement.

(With inputs from agencies.)