OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is scheduled to engage with students at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi on February 20, 2026. This visit coincides with Altman's broader trip to India in mid-February, marking his first return to the country in nearly a year.

Altman's visit aligns with the India AI Impact Summit 2026, a major global AI event taking place in New Delhi from February 16 to 20. The summit is expected to draw a host of prominent tech executives and industry leaders, positioning India as a key player in the global AI landscape. Among those expected to attend are Nvidia's Jensen Huang, Google's Sundar Pichai, and Anthropic's Dario Amodei, alongside leading Indian business figures such as Mukesh Ambani.

While Altman is not currently listed as an official speaker at the summit, he is expected to participate in closed-door meetings on the sidelines. OpenAI is also planning to host a private event in New Delhi on February 19, bringing together venture capitalists and senior industry executives. This series of meetings and events underscores OpenAI's strategic interest in expanding its influence and partnerships within India's burgeoning tech ecosystem.

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is poised to be a landmark event, with over 35,000 registrations received from across the globe. The event will serve as a platform for discussions on AI policy, research, industry collaboration, and public engagement. The focus will be on translating AI discussions into tangible outcomes, aligning with India's vision of inclusive growth and the concept of "AI for humanity". The summit will revolve around three main pillars: People, Planet, and Progress, along with seven key areas of multilateral cooperation, including human capital, social empowerment, AI safety, resilience, science, democratizing AI resources, and AI for economic growth.

Altman's engagement with IIT Delhi students on February 20 will likely involve a conversation with Vinod Khosla of Khosla Ventures, followed by an "Ask Me Anything" session. This interaction provides a valuable opportunity for students to gain insights from a leading figure in the AI industry and explore the potential of AI in various fields.

This visit signifies India's growing importance as a key growth market for global AI firms, fueled by enterprise demand, a thriving startup ecosystem, and widespread consumer adoption through telecom partnerships. Several U.S.-based AI companies are organizing parallel events during the summit week, further highlighting India's increasing prominence in the global AI ecosystem. Anthropic is hosting a developers' day in Bengaluru on February 16, while Nvidia is expected to host an evening event in New Delhi.

Altman's previous visit to India was in February 2025, and he had expressed intentions to return later that year after OpenAI announced its New Delhi office. While that trip did not materialize, his upcoming visit reaffirms the significance of India in OpenAI's global strategy. During his visit, Altman is expected to engage with tech executives, startup founders, and government officials to promote the adoption of ChatGPT and broaden its reach as a consumer product. OpenAI's involvement in various sectors within India, including education and media, further demonstrates its commitment to the Indian market.