India’s AI moment is being powered by its younger generation. At a recent AI summit, OpenAI revealed that users between 18 and 24 years old account for nearly half of ChatGPT usage in the country. It is a striking figure for a nation already home to more than 100 million weekly active users of the platform, according to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. That makes India second only to the United States in total ChatGPT usage, with Indian students representing the largest share of student users globally.
The numbers tell a deeper story about where the global AI workforce may be heading. India’s population skews young, and that generation has adopted digital technology faster than almost anywhere else in the world. For millions of students and early-career professionals, AI tools are becoming foundational infrastructure for learning, coding, marketing, entrepreneurship, and remote work.
But opportunity comes with disruption. Venture capitalist Vinod Khosla, founder of Khosla Ventures, warned that sectors such as IT services and business process outsourcing could largely disappear within five years due to automation. Instead of defending legacy roles, he suggested that India’s estimated 250 million young people should pivot toward building and selling AI-driven products and services to the global market.
OpenAI appears to be doubling down on India’s momentum. The company announced plans to open new offices in Bengaluru and Mumbai, signaling long-term investment in the country’s talent ecosystem. As AI reshapes global labor markets, India’s youth are not waiting to adapt. They are already experimenting, building, and learning at scale.
For young adults worldwide, the message is clear. AI fluency is quickly becoming a competitive advantage. In India, it may also become a defining economic lever for an entire generation.
