OpenAI Hires Pragya Misra As Its First Employee in India

OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, has hired Pragya Misra, its first employee in India, appointing her as the government relations head amid the country's ongoing elections that will shape AI regulations, reported Bloomberg. 

Microsoft Corporation-backed company has appointed Misra to oversee public policy affairs and partnerships in India, the report added. Misra, aged 39, brings experience from her previous roles at Truecaller AB and Meta Platforms Inc. She is expected to commence her role at OpenAI by the end of this month.

The company's new hire shows that it is working on getting favourable rules for AI as countries figure out how to regulate it. India is a big market with a lot of growth potential, but it's tricky because local laws protect local companies.

Misra graduated with an MBA from the International Management Institute in 2012, as indicated on her LinkedIn profile. She earned a commerce degree from Delhi University and completed a Diploma in Bargaining and Negotiations from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Last year, reports surfaced that OpenAI is working with former Twitter India head Rishi Jaitly as a senior advisor to facilitate talks with the government about AI policy. He has been helping OpenAI navigate the Indian policy and regulatory landscape.

OpenAI is also looking to set up a local team in India.

OpenAI doesn't have an official base in India yet, except for a trademark they got this month. When CEO Sam Altman visited New Delhi in June last year during his global tour, he met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and had a positive conversation. However, there were no announcements from Altman or OpenAI during the two-day visit.