'Challenge accepted': Tech Mahindra CEO CP Gurnani responds to ChatGPT founder's dare

Altman, who is currently in India as part of his six-nation tour, was attending an interactive session where former Google Vice President in India and South East Asia Rajan Anandan asked whether India can develop an artificial intelligence tool like ChatGPT.

"We have got a very vibrant ecosystem in India, but specifically focussing on AI, are there spaces where you see a startup from India building foundational models how should we think about that, where is it that a team from India should start to actually build something truly substantial?" Mr Anandan asked.

In response to this question, Altman replied: "The way this works is we're going to tell you, it's totally hopeless to compete with us on training foundation models you shouldn't try, and it's your job to like try anyway. And I believe both of those things. I think it is pretty hopeless.”

Taking Altman’s response as a dare, Tech Mahindra CEO CP Gurnani tweeted Altman's reply and said that the challenge has been accepted.

"OpenAI founder Sam Altman said it's pretty hopeless for Indian companies to try and compete with them. Dear @sama, From one CEO to another...CHALLENGE ACCEPTED," tweeted Gurnani.

Despite Altman's claims that India lacks the capabilities to build a tool like ChatGPT, Anandan said Indian entrepreneurs should not be underestimated and they will try to build their own AI tool.

"Thank you, Sam Altman, for the clear answer. As you said, 'it is hopeless, but you will try anyway.' 5000 years of Indian entrepreneurship has shown us that we should never underestimate the Indian entrepreneur. We do intend to try," Mr Anandan wrote.

However, Altman said the question was taken out of context.

"This is really taken out of context! the question was about competing with us with $10 million, which i really do think is not going to work. but i still said try! however, i think it's the wrong question," Altman replied to the Tech Mahindra CEO.

In the next tweet, Altman underscored the potential of Indian startups.

"The right question is what a startup can do that's never been done before, that will contribute a new thing to the world. i have no doubt indian startups can and will do that! and no one but the builders can answer that question," he said.

During his India tour, Sam Altman met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed how India can benefit from Artificial Intelligence (AI) and framing global regulations for the technology.

“Great conversation with @narendramodi discussing India's incredible tech ecosystem and how the country can benefit from AI. Really enjoyed all my meetings with people in the @PMOIndia,” he tweeted after the meeting.

Sam Altman’s six nation tour also includes UAE, Israel, Jordon, Qatar and South Korea.