Young Indians are redefining how AI tools are used. Data released by OpenAI last Friday shows that Indian users aged 18-24 contribute nearly 50% of ChatGPT message volume in the country, and users under 30 account for 80% of total usage.

Behind this figure is the deep reliance of young Indians on AI tools. 35% of Indian users use ChatGPT for work scenarios, higher than the global average of 30%. More notably, the code assistant Codex is used three times more frequently in India than the global median. Since the launch of its Mac app two weeks ago, Codex's weekly usage has increased fourfold.

This trend aligns with findings from Anthropic. Earlier this week, the company noted that 45.2% of Claude tasks by Indian users are related to software development.

In addition to work needs, 35% of Indian users' queries are for guidance, 20% involve general information inquiries, and another 20% are for creative assistance. This usage pattern reflects that young people see AI as a comprehensive assistant rather than a single-function tool.

India has become OpenAI's second largest market, with over 100 million weekly active users. To capture this market, OpenAI launched a subscription package priced below $5 and ran promotional activities last year to attract users.

Ronnie Chatterji, OpenAI's Chief Economist, said: "AI is spreading faster than we can measure. The Signals project aims to provide factual basis for AI discussions in India, not hype."

Recently, OpenAI has been very active in India: setting up new offices in Mumbai and Bangalore, reaching a 100-megawatt AI computing capacity cooperation with the Tata Group, and establishing partnerships with several local enterprises. These moves indicate that OpenAI is treating India as a strategic location.

The high engagement of young users may reshape India's AI ecosystem. When a generation grows up with smart tools, their way of solving problems will be completely changed. This change not only occurs at the technical level but also affects the innovation pace of the entire society.