OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is set to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to India on February 5, as the AI company looks to align with India's expanding AI initiatives, according to government officials.

S Krishnan, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), confirmed the meeting in a CNBC-TV18 interview, stating that Altman will also engage with IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to explore potential applications of OpenAI's technologies in India.

The visit comes amid India's ambitious push into artificial intelligence through its recently announced IndiaAI Mission, which has received a government allocation of Rs 10,371 crore over five years.
According to The Economic Times, Altman is also scheduled to meet with leading venture capital investors, including representatives from Peak XV Partners and Accel, during his Delhi visit.

The OpenAI chief's India stop is part of a broader international tour that includes Japan, South Korea, the UAE, Germany, and France. This marks Altman's second visit to India, following his June 2023 trip when he first met with PM Modi to discuss AI regulations.

MeitY Secretary Krishnan emphasized that while India is open to collaboration with OpenAI, the country's AI development will prioritize open-source foundations. "Our models will have to be built on open-source foundations", Krishnan stated during the CNBC-TV18 interview, highlighting the government's focus on data sovereignty and security.

The visit comes shortly after OpenAI announces a partnership with SoftBank in Japan, where the two companies agreed to form a joint venture to deliver AI services to corporate clients in the Japanese market.