OpenAI launched ChatGPT back in November 2022 and since then there has been no looking back for its web version. However, it gave them little opportunity to tap into the Indian market as a majority of users here do not have access to a desktop and are primarily smartphone user. According to the similarweb stats, in India 78.02% of traffic is generated from mobile users as compared to 21.39% from desktop.  

In May 2023, OpenAI  released ChatGPT for the iOS Apple App store. While this move was commendable, it still presented a challenge from India’s perspective, where a vast majority of users do not own iPhones, primarily due to their premium pricing. According to Statista, Android held a share of 95.26% of the mobile operating system market in India, followed by Apple’s iOS, a distant second with 3.92% market share in 2022.

Launched this week, OpenAI’s decision to make this advanced language model available on the Google Android Play Store has opened up a world of possibilities for its million users in India (the app has already garnered an impressive 1 million downloads in 24 hours of the launch). 

The prospect of reaching and serving such a massive user base in India holds great promise for ChatGPT.

Multilingual nation

ChatGPT has taken a significant step with its India launch, aiming to introduce ChatGPT to a new user base with distinct needs and preferences. Gathering feedback from Indian users will help it identify areas for improvement and fine-tune the AI’s responses to be more contextually relevant and culturally sensitive.

India is known for its cultural richness and linguistic diversity, and does not have a single national language specified in its Constitution. As one moves across the country, they find a striking array of languages spoken here. By interacting with users in different languages, ChatGPT can learn from diverse language patterns and enhance its multilingual capabilities.

Moreover, India’s geographical expanse gives rise to diverse cultural practices. From the enchanting landscapes of Kashmir to the southern tip of Kanyakumari and the vibrant cultures of West Bengal to the traditions of Gujarat, each region boasts distinct habits and customs. Understanding the nuances of Indian culture and customs can help ChatGPT provide more contextually relevant and culturally appropriate responses, enhancing user experience.

Access to authentic content 

There is a wealth of knowledge that is not available on the internet and books and is transferred verbally from generation to generation. For instance, within the rural farming communities, the passing on of knowledge plays a pivotal role. The knowledge shared among farmers is deeply rooted in their cultural heritage and adapted to the specific geographical and climatic conditions of their regions. 

While interacting with ChatGPT in their local language they will pass on the knowledge to ChatGPT, which will increase its training data set. Additionally, farmers can interact with ChatGPT to seek advice, ask questions, and learn about modern farming practices. This collaborative approach will enable ChatGPT to better understand the unique challenges and needs of Indian farmers.

Soon, ChatGPT will become like a universal book containing an entire sea of knowledge from around the world. The unique prompts entered by Indians will trigger ChatGPT to generate new content which in turn will become its own data set. 

Opportunity to become a mass app 

It is a great opportunity for ChatGPT to become one of the most used and popular apps on the Google Play Store. Right now Meta’s WhatsApp and Instagram hold the top two positions. There is a possibility that Google Search may see a decrease in usage as ChaGPT provides you with the exact information you ask for without going through different web pages.

With its mobile availability, ChatGPT will offer convenience and flexibility, while its simple interface ensures a seamless user experience. Notably, users can now interact with the app using voice prompts, adding an extra layer of convenience. Its key competitor, Google Bard hasn’t come out with an Android app yet, which gives ChatGPT a good first-mover advantage.