Brad Lightcap’s Promotion at OpenAI To Fuel Global Expansion, Follows New Partnership With Reliance in India

Key Takeaways

• OpenAI has expanded the role of its COO Brad Lightcap.
• Lightcap will now focus on global deployment and key partnerships.
• OpenAI is reportedly in talks with Reliance Industries about a potential ChatGPT distribution deal in India.

To expand its global footprint, OpenAI is looking to grow in new markets outside the U.S.

To achieve that, the company has expanded the role of its Chief Operating Officer, Brad Lightcap, to be more focused on strategy and partnerships like the one OpenAI recently struck with India’s Reliance Industries.

OpenAI Discusses ChatGPT Distribution Deal With Reliance

As first reported by The Information on Sunday, March 23, OpenAI has discussed partnering with Reliance to distribute ChatGPT to its customers.

The two companies reportedly discussed selling OpenAI’s models to its enterprise customers through a custom application programming interface (API). Another possibility under consideration is hosting and running OpenAI models locally.

Mobile Opportunities

Home to an estimated 660 million smartphone users, India could be a huge market for the ChatGPT mobile app.

The country’s largest mobile network, Jio, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries, offering another area for potential partnership with OpenAI.

With nearly half a billion subscribers, Jio has an extensive network of distributors able to sell mobile devices, broadband equipment and even Starlink terminals.

Offering ChatGPT as an add-on to the operator’s data packages could grant OpenAI unprecedented access to the Indian market.

Corporate Shakeup Emphasizes Global Growth

Evidence of OpenAI’s renewed focus on global growth can be seen in new responsibilities given to its COO.

In a blog post on Monday, March 24, CEO Sam Altman said that going forward: “Brad will lead our global deployment, focusing on business strategy, key partnerships, infrastructure, and operational excellence.”

Meanwhile, Julia Villagra has assumed the role of Chief People Officer, where “she will enable the company to continue scaling globally,” Altman added.