OpenAI, led by CEO Sam Altman, is launching a major educational initiative aimed at transforming the way AI is used in classrooms across India. The company will provide 500,000 free ChatGPT licences for six months to students and educators, spanning government schools, engineering colleges, and K-12 institutions. This initiative is part of the OpenAI Learning Accelerator, a first-of-its-kind project designed to enhance education through the integration of artificial intelligence.
Revolutionizing Education with AI
Leah Belsky, Vice President of Education at OpenAI, emphasized that AI has the potential to become a lifelong tutor for students, while also helping teachers save time on administrative tasks, allowing them to focus on more impactful teaching. “The goal is to build a community of 500,000 users, with a focus on educators, and then scale these learnings across the country,” she explained during a press briefing.
Strategic Partnerships to Drive AI Adoption
To ensure the success of this initiative, OpenAI has partnered with key Indian organizations, including the Ministry of Education (MoE), the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and the Association for Reinventing School Education (ARISE). These partnerships aim to integrate AI into schools and colleges, improving lesson planning, student engagement, and digital skills development.
The Ministry of Education will assist in identifying government schools where AI tools like ChatGPT can enhance teaching methods. AICTE and ARISE will focus on expanding access to ChatGPT’s study mode, designed to strengthen digital literacy, employability, and practical AI skills in education.
ChatGPT Study Mode: A Smarter Way to Learn
In July, OpenAI launched the “study mode” feature within ChatGPT, marking a significant step forward in personalized education. Unlike traditional Q&A, this feature tailors questions to students’ goals and skill levels, encouraging more in-depth learning. The mode was developed in collaboration with educators, scientists, and pedagogy experts to ensure that it aligns with educational best practices.
Collaboration with IIT Madras
OpenAI has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras to explore how AI can improve teaching and learning. The joint research initiative, funded by OpenAI with a $500,000 investment, aims to evaluate the long-term impact of AI on education and produce insights that could help refine AI-driven tools globally.
Strengthening OpenAI’s Presence in India
This initiative is part of OpenAI’s broader strategy to increase its presence in India. The company is opening a new office in New Delhi and plans to hire talent in areas such as communications, marketing, and education. OpenAI’s efforts in India reflect the company’s commitment to making AI more accessible, practical, and transformative for the millions of students and educators shaping the future of education.
