What's Behind OpenAI's India-First Strategy?

News

1. Team Computers and Yotta Data Services Partner to Accelerate AI Adoption in India

2. Databricks to Buy Enterprise Feature Store Tecton

3. OutSystems Names Ganesh to Accelerate AI-Powered Low-Code Growth in India

4. OpenAI to Open First India Office in Delhi by Year End

5. Wipro to Buy Harman DTS Business for $375m to Boost AI Engineering

6. India Bans Real-Money Online Gaming, But Backs Esports

OpenAI has announced its plan to distribute over half a million ChatGPT licenses to train educators and students across India by entering into partnerships with the Ministry of Education (MoE), the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and Arise member schools.

In addition to this, the Sam Altman-led company will also be doling out a ₹4.5 crore (about $500,000) grant to IIT Madras for advanced AI research. As per the MoU, IIT Madras will conduct long-term studies on how AI can improve learning outcomes and foster innovative teaching methods. OpenAI said in a release that this research will be aligned with insights from cognitive neuroscience, and the findings will be shared openly and inform future product development.

India-First Initiatives

Through its India-first initiative, ‘OpenAI Learning Accelerator’, the company partners will help drive access to ChatGPT’s study mode at scale.

By partnering with the MoE, OpenAI will provide ChatGPT access to government school teachers of Classes 1–12 to offer support in lesson planning, student engagement, and improved outcomes. With AICTE, it plans to provide ChatGPT access to technical institutes nationwide to strengthen digital skills, employability, and practical use of AI.

In its latest release, the company said that with the Association for Reinventing School Education (Arise) network, supported by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), it aims to provide ChatGPT access to K–12 educators to facilitate more personalized and responsive teaching. Over 1,800 schools across 20 states in India are part of the Arise network that reaches around 85,000 teachers and 1.4 million students.

OpenAI said that each partner will work with the company to design and distribute training programs that build AI literacy and confidence among educators and students, ensuring the technology is used effectively and responsibly.

ChatGPT’s study mode is inspired by feedback from learners in India. It serves as a personalized tutor, guiding students at each step by providing personalized responses, interactive questioning, and structured instruction. OpenAI said in its post that this mode will help students stay engaged and build a deeper understanding.

Leah Belsky, VP of Education at OpenAI, said that AI has incredible potential to empower educators and learners. “To realize that potential, we must work side by side with educators and institutions. This effort is critical to OpenAI’s mission of ensuring that AGI benefits humanity—and as such, the launch of OpenAI Learning Accelerator alongside our partners represents one of OpenAI’s most significant investments in India’s education ecosystem to date,” she added.

IIT Madras Director V Kamakoti described the collaboration with OpenAI as a “watershed moment”. He said, “Partnering with OpenAI allows us to push the boundaries of innovation and prepare the next generation of educators and technologists.”

Narrowing India’s Digital Divide

The distribution of ChatGPT licenses will focus on government schools (Classes 1–12) and technical institutes. This initiative will ensure teachers can plan lessons and assignments, while students benefit from features such as study mode and interactive quizzes. The programme will also support ARISE member schools, enabling more personalized and responsive teaching environments.

Belsky explained that the initiative is intentionally designed to “narrow, not widen, India’s digital divide. ” ChatGPT supports 11 Indian languages and is accessible via basic smartphones.

Raghav Gupta, OpenAI’s newly appointed Head of Education for India and Asia Pacific, said, “By working closely with universities, schools, government bodies, and educators, we have an opportunity to truly transform education through AI, driving better learning outcomes, while supporting India’s ambitions to be a global leader in AI-enabled education.”

Gupta noted that licenses will be prioritized for teachers and students in Tier 3 and 4 cities and rural areas, responding to India’s diverse educational needs.

Alongside its research and training collaborations, OpenAI is ramping up its India presence with a forthcoming New Delhi office, the rollout of an India-specific ChatGPT Go subscription priced at ₹399 per month, and AI literacy campaigns in partnership with the Ministry of Electronics and IT.