Artificial intelligence could soon concentrate more cognitive capability in data centres than exists across the global human workforce, and India, according to Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, is uniquely positioned not only to help build that future but also to influence how it is governed.
Speaking at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, Altman highlighted the rapid evolution of AI technologies while cautioning that decisions made today by governments, institutions, and companies will determine whether AI enhances human freedom or consolidates power in the hands of a few.
Altman praised India’s AI advancements over the past year, citing growth in sovereign computational infrastructure, small-scale language models, and widespread adoption among users. More than 100 million Indians now engage with ChatGPT on a weekly basis, with students representing over one-third of users. India has also emerged as the fastest-growing market for Codex, OpenAI’s AI-powered coding assistant.
Tracing AI’s technical trajectory, Altman noted that systems which previously struggled with high school-level problems are now contributing to cutting-edge research, including in theoretical physics. If current trends persist, he suggested, early forms of “true superintelligence” could appear within a few years. By 2028, he projected, computational systems could house more intellectual capacity than humanity collectively — a shift he acknowledged as uncertain but transformative.
These advanced systems, Altman added, could eventually rival top executives in decision-making and exceed leading scientists in select research fields.
Altman framed his vision around three key pillars: democratization, resilience, and shared governance.
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Democratization: Broad access to AI is crucial, he argued, warning that centralizing power in a single company or nation could threaten democratic values. AI should expand human agency rather than reinforce control.
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Resilience: Safety depends not just on technical alignment but on distributed safeguards against misuse, including the potential weaponization of biological models. No single lab can guarantee secure outcomes alone.
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Shared governance: With uncertain social and geopolitical consequences, public debate and institutional readiness are essential to navigate risks such as AI-driven warfare or shifts in social contracts.
Altman predicted that AI will drive down costs across sectors, making healthcare, education, and logistics more accessible and scalable. Robotics and AI-enhanced supply chains could reduce the price of physical goods.
However, he acknowledged that labour disruption is unavoidable. “It’ll be very hard to outwork a GPU in many ways,” he said, emphasizing that human purpose and social connections extend beyond mere computational productivity.
Calling for international coordination, Altman suggested that AI oversight might require institutions similar to those managing nuclear risk, like the International Atomic Energy Agency. Regulation, he noted, must balance innovation with systemic risk management.
India’s size — in terms of users, developer base, and infrastructure ambitions — gives it a role beyond that of a passive consumer market. Investments in sovereign AI capabilities and multilingual deployment could serve as a model for inclusive and democratic AI access worldwide.
Altman concluded that the critical question for the coming years is not technological inevitability, but choice. The trajectory of AI — whether it empowers citizens or consolidates authority — will hinge on governance decisions and the stakeholders involved in shaping them.
