"Hi ChatGPT, You Have To Help Me...”: Bengaluru Student Uses AI To Negotiate Auto Fare In Kannada

• 29 April 2025
• Akriti Singh

In a delightful intersection of tradition and technology, a viral video from Bengaluru has caught the internet’s attention — and hearts. It features Sajan Mahto, a young student, who found himself needing to negotiate an auto-rickshaw fare with a driver who only spoke Kannada. Unfazed by the language barrier, Sajan turned to an unlikely but highly effective ally: OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

With a touch of humor and urgency, he typed into his phone, “Hi ChatGPT, you have to help me…” — setting off a digital back-and-forth where ChatGPT translated and crafted polite, convincing phrases in Kannada. What followed was a real-time, AI-assisted negotiation that not only worked but also impressed the driver. The interaction was smooth, respectful, and most importantly — successful.

The moment, caught on video and widely shared across social media, is a heartwarming example of how AI is becoming an everyday companion, even in the bustling, often chaotic context of Indian city life. Sajan's spontaneous use of ChatGPT transformed what could have been an awkward or frustrating encounter into an engaging display of digital-age resourcefulness.

Why This Matters

Bengaluru, known as India’s Silicon Valley, is no stranger to tech innovation — but this incident brings AI out of corporate boardrooms and into the hands of ordinary people. It's a reminder that technology, especially tools like ChatGPT, is increasingly democratized. You no longer need to be a programmer or tech expert to use AI in meaningful ways.

What stands out most in this story isn’t just the use of a translation tool — it’s how naturally it was applied to solve a very human problem: communication. Instead of resorting to hand gestures or walking away, Sajan used AI to build a bridge — across languages, cultures, and generations.

Netizens React

Social media users reacted with laughter, admiration, and a fair bit of pride. Many praised Sajan for his quick thinking, while others saw the moment as symbolic of a new era where AI seamlessly integrates into our lives. “This is peak Bengaluru,” one commenter wrote. Another quipped, “Even our autos now run on ChatGPT!”

Some users shared their own experiences of using translation apps to navigate new cities or languages, sparking a broader conversation about the role of AI in everyday life — from ordering food to getting directions to, now, negotiating transport fares.

The Bigger Picture

This video may be lighthearted, but it hints at something bigger: the growing comfort young Indians have with AI and digital tools. In a multilingual country where communication can be a daily challenge, AI-powered language assistance could play a huge role — not just for students, but for tourists, migrants, and even small business owners.

Sajan’s moment with ChatGPT is a small glimpse into a future where technology doesn’t just live in labs or apps — it lives with us, walks with us, and even catches an auto with us.