OpenAI to process API data, run AI inference locally for Indian companies

OpenAI says supported API requests and model inference will now be processed on servers in India, helping businesses meet data sovereignty requirements and adopt AI tools for work.

ChatGPT maker OpenAI on Thursday announced that data submitted through its application programming interfaces (APIs) in India would now be processed within the country. Inference for supported API workloads would also take place in India, the company said.

 

“Available initially for the GPT-6 Luna model, this offering builds on OpenAI’s existing data residency options in India and helps organisations adopt artificial intelligence (AI) for work that requires in-country processing,” OpenAI said.

 

The move is likely to benefit companies in the financial technology sector, where the sectoral regulator, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), has mandated the local processing and storage of data.

 

“Local inference gives them more control over where supported workloads run and helps address a practical barrier to adoption. It gives more businesses a way to put OpenAI’s tools to work, and gives Indian developers and startups more scope to build for their own and enterprise needs,” said Nitin Bawankule, head of enterprise at OpenAI India.

 

In May last year, OpenAI began offering data residency in India to users of ChatGPT Enterprise, ChatGPT Edu and the OpenAI API Platform. The move was aimed at helping organisations meet local data sovereignty requirements when using the company’s products in their businesses and developing new AI solutions.

 

Thursday’s announcement extends these provisions, with the processing of API requests and the model computations that generate responses now taking place on servers within India.

 

“Supported customer content is also stored in-country, helping businesses bring AI to text-based work such as summarising documents, drafting responses, and helping employees analyse information,” the company said.

 

In addition to launching its data residency programme in India last year, OpenAI had introduced OpenAI for India, an initiative focused on AI infrastructure, enterprise adoption, skills and local partnerships.

 

As part of the initiative, OpenAI had also partnered with the Tata Group to develop domestic AI data centre capacity.