OpenAI and Meta (the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) are reportedly in discussions with India’s Reliance Industries to explore potential AI partnerships. According to a report by The Information, both tech giants are looking to leverage Reliance’s extensive infrastructure, market reach, and data resources to expand their artificial intelligence offerings in the country.
Potential OpenAI-Reliance Partnership
One of the key discussions involves Reliance Jio—a subsidiary of Reliance Industries—possibly distributing OpenAI’s ChatGPT across India. Additionally, OpenAI has internally debated reducing the ChatGPT subscription price from the current $20 per month to a more affordable rate, though it remains unclear if this pricing strategy has been discussed with Reliance.
Another proposal suggests that Reliance may sell OpenAI’s AI models to enterprise clients through an application programming interface (API). To ensure that customer data remains within India, Reliance is also considering hosting and running OpenAI’s AI models locally. These models could be powered by a three-gigawatt data center that Reliance plans to establish in Jamnagar, Gujarat, which is expected to be the largest data center in the world.
Meta’s AI Ambitions in India
Alongside OpenAI, Meta has also engaged in discussions with Reliance about potential AI-related projects. While the specifics of these talks remain undisclosed, Meta has been steadily working to expand its presence in India. In 2023, reports indicated that Meta was planning to set up its first data center in India at Reliance Industries’ campus in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The facility could allow Meta to operate multiple data nodes across the country, strengthening its digital infrastructure in one of the world’s largest internet markets.
Meta’s collaboration with Reliance extends beyond AI. In August 2024, reports surfaced about potential licensing discussions between Meta and Reliance Jio for Meta’s Horizon VR software. This move was part of an effort to integrate Meta’s virtual reality technology into a Jio-developed device, further expanding Meta’s presence in the VR and augmented reality sectors.
Reliance’s Growing AI Footprint
Reliance has been actively expanding its AI capabilities. In September 2023, the conglomerate announced a strategic partnership with Nvidia to build AI infrastructure for large-scale applications. That same year, Chairman Mukesh Ambani revealed plans to develop AI systems akin to OpenAI’s ChatGPT, signaling the company’s commitment to artificial intelligence.
Why These Partnerships Matter
Reliance’s dominance in telecommunications (Jio) and data center infrastructure makes it a valuable partner for global AI companies looking to scale in India. By collaborating with Reliance, OpenAI and Meta could develop AI models tailored to Indian languages, businesses, and consumers—a significant step given India’s diverse linguistic and economic landscape.
With India’s AI market projected to reach $17 billion by 2027, these discussions reflect a broader push by major tech players to tap into the country’s rapidly growing AI ecosystem. However, it is important to note that these negotiations are still ongoing, and no official agreements have been announced yet.
The Road Ahead
If these partnerships materialize, they could reshape India’s AI landscape by enhancing accessibility to advanced AI tools, fostering local innovation, and ensuring compliance with India’s data localization policies. As OpenAI and Meta continue their discussions with Reliance, the outcome of these talks could have far-reaching implications for India’s technology sector and the global AI industry.
