OpenAI has described India as its most important customer base outside America, but until now the company had no single executive running the country. That gap is now filled with the hiring of Prabhjeet Singh, a veteran who spent years building Uber's business across India and South Asia. An OpenAI spokesperson said, "India is our most important customer base outside America," underscoring the strategic weight of the appointment.
In his new role, Singh will be responsible for areas including consumer expansion, corporate uptake, collaborations, regulatory affairs, and daily management. He joins a team that already includes Pragya Misra, who was hired in 2024 to lead public policy and partnerships, and Rishi Jaitly, a former Twitter India head who serves as a senior adviser on government relations. Early partners like Reliance and Tata Group are already working with OpenAI in India.
He will report to Kiran Mani, OpenAI's managing director for Asia Pacific.
Get your free investing masterclass bonus when you join Market Briefs, our free daily newsletter
India's developer ecosystem is one of the largest in the world, with hundreds of thousands of engineers building applications on OpenAI's models across sectors like finance, education, and healthcare. The country also has more than one billion internet users, many of whom are adopting generative AI tools at a pace unmatched outside the United States. OpenAI plans to open new offices in Mumbai and Bengaluru and has several open job positions in India, signaling long-term commitment to scaling its presence there.
India is not just another market for OpenAI. The country also has a huge base of software developers who build on OpenAI's models, plus more than one billion internet users who are adopting generative AI at a rapid pace.
With this appointment, OpenAI gains a leader experienced in navigating India's complex regulatory environment and growing operations in a fast-moving market. Singh's time at Uber, where he oversaw expansion across varied Indian states, will prove useful as OpenAI confronts increasing oversight around AI safety and data localization rules. The company has already engaged with policymakers and local firms, signaling a long-term commitment to the region.
OpenAI is not the only AI company betting big on India. Rival Anthropic opened its India office in Bengaluru in late 2025. Earlier in 2026, Anthropic named Irina Ghose - formerly managing director of Microsoft India - as its India head. This competitive dynamic means both companies will vie for top talent, government influence, and enterprise customers in a market where AI adoption is surging.
Subscribe to Market Briefs, our free daily newsletter, and claim your bonus investing masterclass
