ChatGPT creator OpenAI has turned its attention to India, with the appointment of Rishi Jaitly, former head of Twitter India, as its senior advisor, the media has reported. Jaitly will play a key role in facilitating OpenAI’s engagement with the Indian government on artificial intelligence (AI) policies, and some reports suggest the company may set up a dedicated unit in India to leverage the nation’s expanding AI landscape.
Is Rishi Jaitly Helping OpenAI Kickstart In India?
Rishi Jaitly, the first Twitter employee in India, is said to be advising Sam Altman of OpenAI for the Indian market, says a report by TechCrunch. This collaboration suggests OpenAI’s interest in broadening its presence in the country. According to reports, Jaitly has been collaborating with Altman since his visit to India earlier this year, serving as a senior advisor to the ChatGPT parent, focusing on policy matters and facilitating discussions with the government. Notably, Minister of State (MoS) for IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, has advocated international collaboration to formulate a pragmatic framework for regulating AI, highlighting the importance of prioritising safety and trust.
Under the leadership of Altman, OpenAI has appointed Jaitly, who was previously responsible for policy and operations at Google and Twitter in Asia.
After his tenure at Twitter, Jaitly co-founded Times Bridge in 2016, serving as its founding CEO. His mission was to catalyze the worldwide dissemination of impactful ideas, with a particular emphasis on India. Times Bridge swiftly gained prominence as a premier US entity introducing novel ideas and technology to the Indian market. Times Bridge’s portfolio encompasses notable names such as Uber, Airbnb, Coursera, Mubi, Smule, and Wattpad. Jaitly concluded his tenure at the firm last year.
From 2007 to 2009, Jaitly led the public-private partnership at Google in India before transitioning to Twitter (now X) in 2012. His LinkedIn profile says that he was the company’s first employee in the country. Jaitly was elevated to the position of Vice President for the APAC and MENA region.
To recall, Sam Altman resumed his role as the Chief Executive Officer of OpenAI last month, effectively resolving the crisis triggered by his abrupt termination on November 17 by the board of directors. The board, responsible for his dismissal, underwent a substantial overhaul following a rebellion by the workforce, with the exception of Adam D’Angelo, CEO of Quora, who played a role in Altman’s firing but has retained his position on the board.
Upon his return, Altman conveyed a conciliatory message to Ilya Sutskever, an AI scientist who had been removed and initially involved in the effort to oust Altman. In a blog post, Altman expressed affection and respect for Sutskever, recognizing him as a guiding figure in the field. Despite Sutskever’s board removal, Altman affirmed the commitment to sustaining their professional relationship, actively seeking ways for Sutskever to contribute to OpenAI’s initiatives.