Michelle ThompsonIndia’s deep passion for cricket hasn’t gone unnoticed—even by AI. When Sam Altman, the founder of OpenAI, prompted ChatGPT to create an anime-style image of himself as a cricketer, the result featured him in a striking blue India jersey, bat in hand.
Altman posted the AI-generated image on X (formerly Twitter) last Thursday, quickly catching the attention of Indian users and sparking a wave of reactions online.
While Altman has shared AI art before—recently participating in the popular Studio Ghibli trend—it was the India jersey that stirred the buzz this time.
Many Indian users were thrilled to see him in their national colors, interpreting it as a friendly nod to India’s cricket culture. Others speculated it might be a strategic move, suggesting Altman could be appealing to Indian audiences or hinting at bigger plans for the region.
“Sam trying hard to attract Indian customers,” one user commented.
Another referenced OpenAI’s recent $40 billion funding round, asking, “How much are you allocating out of that $40bn to India?”
The post has since fueled curiosity and conversation across Indian social media.
Altman’s AI-generated anime cricketer avatar
Another user recently pointed out a trend they noticed in Sam Altman’s latest social media activity—one that aligns with a growing curiosity among Indian users.
“Over the past few days, you’ve been praising India and Indian users a lot. What sparked this sudden admiration? It feels like there’s a bigger strategy at play,” the user posted on X.
Although the comment might sound speculative, there could be some merit to it.
Just hours before Altman posted a photo of himself in a cricket jersey, he had shared another post applauding India’s rapid adoption of AI. He described it as “amazing to watch” and noted that India was “outpacing the world.”
That post quickly gained traction across Indian platforms, prompting a wave of media coverage and online discussion.
One Reddit user even launched a thread expressing a mix of amusement and confusion: “Can someone explain what Sam Altman is referring to in this tweet?” they wrote, attaching a screenshot of his post.
A few days prior, Altman had also reshared animated images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, originally posted by a government-run platform for public engagement.
These posts have sparked significant discussion, with many questioning Altman’s intentions.
Much of the skepticism seems to stem from his previous comments on India’s AI capabilities. Back in 2023, during a visit, he appeared dismissive of small Indian startups’ ability to compete with OpenAI. When asked if a lean, $10 million team could build foundational AI models, he responded that it would be “totally hopeless”—though he encouraged such teams to keep trying.
However, Altman’s tone shifted during a recent visit this year. In a February meeting with Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, he expressed interest in partnering with India to develop affordable AI models.
He also praised India’s rapid AI adoption and shared that the country had become OpenAI’s second-largest market, with user numbers tripling in the past year.
Altman recently retweeted a post on Ghibli-style images of PM Modi with Donald Trump
Altman’s praise for India comes at a time when his company is involved in a legal dispute with several major Indian news outlets, accused of using their content without permission.
Experts suggest that his recent enthusiasm for India may be driven by the country’s growing value as a business opportunity.
According to the International Trade Administration, India’s AI market is expected to hit $8 billion by 2025, with a CAGR exceeding 40% between 2020 and 2025.
Nikhil Pahwa, founder and editor of MediaNama, a site focused on tech policy, says bold declarations about India by AI leaders often reflect its vast user base. He notes that Altman isn’t the only tech CEO taking interest in India.
In January, Perplexity AI’s founder, Aravind Srinivas, expressed a similar interest in Indian AI startups. He even pledged $1 million and five hours of his time weekly to “make India great again in the context of AI,” in a post on X.
Technology journalist Prasanto K Roy says the viral Ghibli-style trend highlighted just how many Indians use platforms like ChatGPT—and possibly others. With alternatives like Gemini and Grok rapidly gaining popularity, Altman might be trying to both retain existing users and draw in more.
Pahwa adds that India represents a key market for all major AI foundation models. With low-cost competitors like DeepSeek AI entering the scene, Altman’s push could be about keeping Indian developers engaged with OpenAI’s tools.
“In the end, these grand gestures toward India aren’t about affection—they’re about business,” Pahwa concludes.
