OpenAI keeps Indian AI requests in 1 country

OpenAI said on the 12th of November 2026 that businesses in India can now have their AI requests processed inside the country, The Hindu reported. It starts with GPT-6 Luna, OpenAI's small, fast model.

Since May 2025, OpenAI has only let Indian customers store data in India. Now the answers can be made there too.

Why it matters

Some Indian firms, such as banks, need data to stay in India while it is processed, OpenAI said. OpenAI's Nitin Bawankule said local processing gives them "more control".

The rules

Customers create a new project, pick India for storage and processing and use an India web address, OpenAI's guide says. They must also use zero data retention, a setting that keeps their content out of OpenAI's logs.

Only the plain pay as you go service works, and built-in tools are unavailable, the guide says. India joins Australia and Japan on the list.

Below we break down the price

OpenAI charges 10 percent more for data kept in a region on newer models, its guide says. A job that costs 100 dollars elsewhere would cost 110 dollars, by our arithmetic.

GPT-6 Luna costs 0.10 dollars per million input tokens at its standard rate, VentureBeat reported. With the extra charge, that would be 0.11 dollars.

What is confirmed and what is not

OpenAI's guide lists India, Australia and Japan for local processing. A tech news site had spotted India in the guide on the 11th of November, a day early.

The Hindu, The Economic Times and Mint all reported the launch.

Key facts

OpenAI launched local AI processing in India on the 12th of November 2026.

It covers GPT-6 Luna through OpenAI's developer tools.

Customers need zero data retention.

The service carries a 10 percent extra charge.