New Delhi: While we wait for GPT-5, a surprise meeting between music maestro AR Rahman and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in San Francisco has triggered new interest in India’s role in AI-powered storytelling and music innovation. The conversation between the Oscar-winning composer and the AI company head wasn’t just a photo-op, it centred around a unique cultural-tech project called Secret Mountain, which Rahman has been quietly building over the past year.
The update was shared by Rahman himself on X (formerly Twitter), where he posted a photo from Altman’s office. “It was a pleasure meeting @sama at his office,” Rahman wrote. “We discussed ‘Secret Mountain’, our virtual global band, and empowering Indian minds to use AI tools to address generational challenges and lead the way forward.”
It was a pleasure meet @sama at his office …we discussed “Secret Mountain”, our virtual global band, and to empower and uplift Indian minds to use AI tools to address generational challenges and lead the way forward.
EPI
@chatgptindia @OpenAI #arrimmersiveentertainment… pic.twitter.com/ny16ogrqFk— A.R.Rahman (@arrahman) July 24, 2025
Secret Mountain mixes AI with folklore and sound
Secret Mountain is expected to be a virtual band and creative storytelling experiment designed to blend folklore, global music styles, and artificial intelligence. Rahman first introduced it in February 2024 through a five-minute animated video that teased a magical world filled with music-driven characters. The central story follows Luna, a young girl who finds herself in a surreal music universe filled with sonic beings, each representing a distinct cultural sound and vibe.
In his latest post, Rahman described it as a global band, but one shaped with AI. The goal is to create tools and stories that allow Indian artists to participate in and lead creative work using artificial intelligence.
Great hosting @arrahman at @perplexity_ai office today with live demos of Comet browser, and his upcoming project “Secret Mountain”. pic.twitter.com/1MNiLzdGas
— Aravind Srinivas (@AravSrinivas) July 25, 2025
Perplexity AI also joins the conversation
During his visit to California, Rahman didn’t just meet Altman. He also dropped by the office of Perplexity AI, the startup known for its search engine tool and AI browser Comet.
CEO Aravind Srinivas posted a photo from the meeting and shared that Rahman got a live demo of Perplexity’s tools. “Great hosting @arrahman at @perplexity_ai office today with live demos of Comet browser, and his upcoming project ‘Secret Mountain’,” Srinivas wrote on X.
It’s not every day you see a Grammy-winning composer hanging out with AI startup founders, but this crossover seems to hint at something bigger. Maybe we’re entering a phase where Indian creators are not just using AI tools built by others but actively shaping how those tools are imagined.
What’s next?
There are still no confirmed timelines, launches, or collaborations. But it seems like Rahman is serious about using AI to tell stories, not just compose music.
