OpenAI launches data residency in India for ChatGPT enterprise
Under the new initiative, OpenAI will co-invest in India’s data centres, offering customised ChatGPT versions for different cultures and public services.
OpenAI has announced that enterprise and educational customers in India using ChatGPT can now store their data locally instead of relying on servers abroad. The move, aimed at complying with India’s upcoming data localisation rules under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, allows conversations, uploads, and prompts to remain within the country. Similar options are now available in Japan, Singapore, and South Korea.
Data stored under this new residency option will be encrypted and kept secure, according to the company. OpenAI clarified it will not use this data for training its models unless customers choose to share it. The change may also influence a copyright infringement case against OpenAI in India, where the jurisdiction was previously questioned due to foreign server locations.
OpenAI for Countries Initiative
Alongside this update, OpenAI has unveiled a broader international initiative, called OpenAI for Countries, as part of the US-led $500 billion Stargate project. The plan involves building AI infrastructure in partner countries instead of centralizing development, allowing nations to create localized versions of ChatGPT tailored to their languages and services.
OpenAI says the goal is to help democracies develop AI on their terms instead of adopting centralized, authoritarian systems. The company and the US government will co-invest in local data centers and AI models to strengthen economic growth and digital sovereignty across the globe.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot! More news
The Digital Watch is an initiative of the Geneva Internet Platform, supported by the Swiss Confederation and the Republic and Canton of Geneva. The GIP is operated by DiploFoundation. The GIP Digital Watch observatory reflects on a wide variety of themes and actors involved in global digital policy, curated by a dedicated team of experts from around the world. To submit updates about your organization, or to join our team of curators, or to inquire about partnerships, write to us at [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you.
