India has become one of the most advanced markets for artificial intelligence, with strong performance in coding, data analysis, and complex reasoning tasks. According to OpenAI’s latest capability gap report, Indian users rank among the top five globally in reasoning-based usage per person, measured through ChatGPT Plus activity. This suggests that users in India frequently engage with AI to solve sophisticated problems and perform high-level tasks.

The country’s AI development ecosystem is also expanding rapidly. OpenAI reported that the number of Codex users in India increased fourfold within just two weeks of its launch in February 2026. High usage in coding and data analysis further reinforces India’s position as a global leader in advanced AI adoption.

Despite this progress, AI usage in India is heavily concentrated in a few major cities. The top ten urban centers account for around half of all users, with Delhi NCR showing the highest ChatGPT penetration. These cities represent less than 10 percent of the population, making AI adoption significantly more concentrated compared to countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Brazil, and Germany.

The gap is even wider for advanced applications. Data analysis usage is up to 30 times higher in leading cities, coding activity is four times greater, and Codex developer usage shows a ninefold difference. This highlights a strong concentration of AI capability in cities such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi, and Chennai.

Outside these hubs, AI is gaining traction in sectors like education and healthcare. Eastern states such as Assam, Odisha, Manipur, Tripura, and Chhattisgarh show strong engagement in education-related use cases. Assam, in particular, has a significantly higher share of learning-related interactions compared to the national average. In health and wellness, regions like Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, and Kerala demonstrate higher usage. In Jammu and Kashmir, nearly 10 percent of interactions are health-related, notably above the national average.

OpenAI noted that the next stage of India’s AI growth will depend on broader access and adoption. Key factors include improving language support, affordability, and infrastructure. Oliver Jay, OpenAI’s Managing Director for International, emphasized that the challenge now is to extend AI benefits beyond early adopters and major cities by increasing access, building skills, and encouraging meaningful usage across the country, especially given India’s young and rapidly adopting population.