Meta executive leaves for OpenAI as the social media giant faces growing scrutiny in India

OpenAI's hiring of Sandhya Devanathan, a senior Meta executive, points to a clear strategy for regional expansion beyond just India. Devanathan's mandate across Southeast Asia and Australia, coupled with her Singapore base, shows OpenAI is building out its operational and regulatory capabilities in key Asian markets. This move is about more than just a high-profile hire; it reflects OpenAI's commitment to navigating diverse regulatory environments and fostering enterprise adoption in a region with varied tech landscapes. The timing of this hire, shortly after Prabhjeet Singh joined as India head, suggests a coordinated effort to deepen OpenAI's footprint across Asia Pacific. The company has opened offices in Singapore, Tokyo, Seoul, Sydney, and Delhi over the past two years. The challenge for OpenAI will be to translate these executive hires and office openings into tangible market share and regulatory acceptance, especially as local AI players emerge and governments consider new AI policies.