OpenAI is significantly expanding its focus on education in India with the launch of the "OpenAI Learning Accelerator," an initiative designed to empower students and teachers with advanced AI tools and training. This program includes a research collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, supported by $500,000 in funding from OpenAI, and the distribution of approximately 500,000 ChatGPT licenses to educators and students across the country.

Partnership with IIT Madras

A central element of the Learning Accelerator is the research partnership between OpenAI and IIT Madras. Backed by a $500,000 grant from OpenAI, IIT Madras will conduct long-term studies on how AI can improve learning outcomes and foster innovative teaching methods, aligned with insights from cognitive neuroscience. The findings from this research will be shared openly to inform future product development and pedagogical practices. IIT Madras will explore how cognitive science can be combined with AI tools to improve comprehension, critical thinking, and retention among students. This research aims to provide valuable insights for global education systems exploring large-scale AI integration.

Dr. Kamakoti Veezhinathan, Director of IIT Madras, stated that the goal of the partnership is to explore how AI can reshape pedagogy and expand research in education, preparing the next generation of educators and technologists. IIT Madras has also launched a Centre for Human-Centric AI to harness AI to amplify human potential. The Centre's activities include technology development, aiding entrepreneurship development, human resource development, and international collaborations.

Empowering Educators and Institutions

The OpenAI Learning Accelerator aims to address the challenges of ensuring AI deepens learning rather than creating shortcuts, and helping students build critical thinking skills. The initiative focuses on empowering educators and institutions with AI tools and training through collaborations with leading institutions, including IIT Madras and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).

Over the next six months, OpenAI plans to distribute approximately half a million ChatGPT licenses and training to educators and students across India through partnerships with the Ministry of Education (MoE), AICTE, and ARISE member schools. This includes providing ChatGPT access for teachers in government schools (Classes 1–12) to support lesson planning, student engagement, and improved outcomes. AICTE will provide ChatGPT access to technical institutes nationwide, strengthening digital skills, employability, and practical AI use. ARISE member schools will provide ChatGPT access for K–12 educators, enabling more personalized and responsive teaching.

Each partner will work with OpenAI to design and distribute training programs that build AI literacy and confidence among educators and students, ensuring the technology is used effectively and responsibly. Partners will also help drive access to tools like ChatGPT's study mode at scale. This study mode is inspired by feedback from learners in India, and serves as a personalized tutor by guiding students step-by-step with personalized responses, interactive questioning, and structured instruction to help them stay engaged and build deeper understanding.

India as a Global Hub

OpenAI views India as a pivotal market due to its scale and the widespread adoption of AI tools among its youth. More than 50 percent of ChatGPT's Indian users are under 24 years of age, demonstrating the platform's relevance for the student population. To lead this program, OpenAI has appointed Raghav Gupta as Head of Education for India and Asia Pacific.

The education-focused rollout reflects OpenAI's belief that AI can become a transformative force in global learning. By equipping Indian classrooms with AI-driven tools, the company aims to create an environment where students benefit from personalized tutoring, educators save time on administrative tasks, and institutions prepare for a future shaped by technology. This initiative underlines OpenAI's broader mission to integrate artificial intelligence into education worldwide, with India serving as a central hub for innovation and adoption.

OpenAI is also launching an India-specific ChatGPT subscription plan at ₹399 per month, integrated with UPI payments. The company plans to open its first India office in New Delhi later this year and is hiring for sales roles. Sam Altman is expected to visit India next month to review operations and explore further agreements with the government.