OpenAI taps Rishi Jaitly for India expansion plans

OpenAI has enlisted the expertise of former Twitter India head, Rishi Jaitly, as a senior advisor to facilitate discussions with the Indian government on AI policy, according to media reports. OpenAI, currently without an official presence in India, is also exploring the establishment of a local team in the country.

According to the reports, Jaitly has been instrumental in guiding OpenAI through India's policy and regulatory landscape. While it remains unclear if Jaitly is formally employed by OpenAI, reports suggest he has assumed a role advising the company on establishing connections in India.

Jaitly, previously the head of the public-private partnership for Google in India and later Twitter's first employee in the country, has been actively involved in supporting OpenAI since co-founder and CEO Sam Altman's visit to New Delhi in June. 

Altman met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit, where discussions reportedly went well, though no official announcements were made.

OpenAI, having faced leadership changes recently with Altman and board president Greg Brockman briefly departing before returning with a revamped board, is focusing on expanding its footprint. Jaitly's involvement aligns with the company's interest in navigating India's potential as a key market.

OpenAI's vice president of global affairs, Anna Makanju, is scheduled to speak at the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence summit in Delhi, and Jaitly is believed to have played a role in arranging her participation. As the company explores potential growth in India, working on the regulatory front may be a key focus, considering the Indian government's indications of a collaborative and relatively light-touch approach to AI regulation.