OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s AI-Generated Cricket Jersey Image Gets Indians Talking
India, known for its passion for cricket, is now talking about a surprising subject: Sam Altman, the founder of OpenAI, in a cricket jersey—an AI-generated image, to be exact. Altman recently shared an anime-style image of himself as a cricketer donning a bright blue India jersey on X (formerly Twitter), sparking widespread attention from Indian social media users.
Though Altman has shared AI-generated images before, such as participating in the viral Studio Ghibli trend, this particular image caught the eye of many due to its depiction of him in an India jersey. The reaction from Indian users was mixed, with some delighted by the image and others speculating about the motivations behind it.
“Sam trying hard to attract Indian customers,” one user remarked, while another questioned his intentions by asking, “How much are you allocating out of that $40bn to India?” in reference to OpenAI’s significant funding.
Some even pointed out a trend in Altman’s recent posts, speculating about a deeper strategy behind his apparent praise for India. One user commented on X, “Over the past few days, you’ve been praising India and Indian customers a lot. How did this sudden love for India come about? It feels like there’s some deep strategy going on behind the scenes.”
Altman’s newfound focus on India isn’t just limited to social media posts. Just hours before sharing the image, he praised India’s rapid adoption of AI technology, calling it “amazing to watch” and noting how the country was “outpacing the world” in AI development. The praise went viral, sparking discussions on social media and even a Reddit thread humorously questioning the motivation behind Altman’s tweet.
This came shortly after Altman retweeted Studio Ghibli-style images of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, further fueling speculation. While some see it as a genuine acknowledgment of India’s role in the AI space, others view it with a more skeptical eye, especially given Altman’s past remarks about Indian startups.
During a 2023 visit, Altman had dismissed the possibility of small Indian teams building substantial AI models, stating that such efforts would be “totally hopeless.” However, his stance seems to have shifted. During a February 2024 visit to India, he expressed interest in collaborating on creating affordable AI models and praised India for its rapid AI adoption. He also revealed that India is OpenAI’s second-largest market, with user numbers tripling in the past year.
Altman’s shift in tone comes amidst legal disputes with major Indian media companies over the alleged unauthorized use of their content. Experts suggest that Altman’s new approach might be tied to India’s emerging AI market, which is expected to grow significantly. According to the International Trade Administration, the Indian AI market is projected to reach $8 billion by 2025, with an impressive annual growth rate.
Industry figures like Nikhil Pahwa, founder of MediaNama.com, suggest that Altman’s gestures toward India are likely tied to business interests. “India’s massive user base is a key factor in the global AI race,” Pahwa explains. Similar sentiments were echoed by other AI industry leaders, such as Aravind Srinivas of Perplexity AI, who also expressed interest in investing in Indian startups.
Tech writer Prasanto K Roy believes Altman’s AI-generated posts, including the Ghibli-style images of Modi, reflect India’s importance to OpenAI’s user base. With competitors like DeepSeek AI gaining traction in India, Altman may be keen to retain current users while attracting new ones.
According to Pahwa, “There’s no real love here—just business. India is a crucial market for AI services, and Altman’s moves are geared towards maintaining OpenAI’s position in the country.”
