OpenAI announced two major developments within a single day, the rollout of a one-year free ChatGPT Go subscription for Indian users and a $38 billion cloud computing partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS). The moves mark the company’s effort to expand globally while reducing its dependence on Microsoft’s Azure infrastructure.
Free ChatGPT Go Access Targets Indian Market
Beginning November 4, Indian users can access ChatGPT Go at no cost for one year, coinciding with the company’s first DevDay Exchange event in Bengaluru. The subscription, typically priced at ₹399 per month, includes access to OpenAI’s GPT-5 model, increased message limits, image generation tools, and file upload capabilities.
OpenAI said the offer is part of its broader “India-first” strategy as the country emerges as a key growth market. India is currently OpenAI’s second-largest user base, with weekly active users reportedly quadrupling over the past year. Nick Turley, OpenAI’s vice president and head of ChatGPT, said the initiative aims to “help more people across India easily access and benefit from advanced AI.”
The free plan requires users to register payment details, but does not charge them during the 12-month period. Existing subscribers will automatically receive an additional year of free access. The move also positions OpenAI to compete more directly with Google and Perplexity, both of which have introduced free or discounted AI services in India.
Amazon Deal Marks Strategic Shift
On November 3, OpenAI confirmed a $38 billion, seven-year cloud partnership with AWS, giving it access to hundreds of thousands of Nvidia GPUs, including GB200 and GB300 units. The agreement marks OpenAI’s first major diversification beyond Microsoft’s Azure cloud, signaling a broader multi-cloud approach.
“Scaling frontier AI requires massive, reliable compute,” said OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. AWS will supply the computing resources through its EC2 UltraServer clusters, enabling OpenAI to train and deploy its models at a greater scale.
The announcement lifted Amazon’s shares by nearly 4%, pushing the company to record market highs and adding about $140 billion in market capitalization. The deal comes as OpenAI continues to expand its computing partnerships, which could total over $1.4 trillion in infrastructure commitments by the end of 2025.
With India as a growing market and AWS as a new strategic partner, OpenAI’s latest announcements reflect an accelerated effort to broaden access, diversify operations, and strengthen its global AI ecosystem ahead of an anticipated public offering.
