OpenAI partners with higher education institutions in India to embed AI in learning

ChatGPT maker OpenAI is teaming up with a cohort of higher education institutions in India to strengthen AI use among students and build AI-ready talent.

This move is part of an endeavour to embed artificial intelligence (AI) in learning and research.

Several workplace skills are expected to change due to automation and AI, making this collaboration a vital step for national capability in an increasingly digital global economy.

Raghav Gupta, Head of Education at OpenAI India, noted that education is the primary bridge for this technological transition.

“AI literacy is essential to building a future-ready generation. Studies project that by 2030, nearly 40% of the core skills workers rely on today will change, driven largely by AI. Yet, a gap remains between what AI tools can do and how people are using them. Education institutions are a critical route to bridge this gap,” said Gupta.

The cohort includes institutions such as the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad. For engineering students, the focus is on applied problem-solving and deeptech innovation.

“We are delighted to partner with OpenAI to explore access to the latest ChatGPT Edu tools for our students, researchers and faculty and to enable collaborative research in novel applications of AI, including in Education,” said Prof Rangan Banerjee, Director of IIT Delhi.

Management education is also being redefined to ensure future leaders can use AI for enterprise decision-making.

“This collaboration will not only prepare our students, faculty, and staff members to become an AI-native workforce but also support them in understanding and adopting responsible use of AI through a range of resources and activities,” Prof Bharat Bhasker, the Director of IIM Ahmedabad.

In the medical field, AIIMS New Delhi is exploring an AI in Medical Education Hub to enhance clinical training and patient safety.

“Our collaboration with OpenAI reflects our commitment to responsibly integrate advanced AI tools into medical education, faculty development, and clinical training. Through the proposed AI in Medical Education Hub, we aim to establish robust quality benchmarks, safety guardrails, and ethical standards so that AI strengthens clinical judgment, enhances learning, and ultimately improves patient care outcomes,” said Prof M Srinivas, Director of AIIMS New Delhi.

Similarly, Manipal Academy of Higher Education is prioritising cross-disciplinary research and critical thinking. Its Vice Chancellor, Lt. Gen Dr MD Venkatesh, noted that AI is an enabler in transforming how the university enhances learning outcomes, accelerates research, and fosters critical thinking in a dynamic environment.

The University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES) and Pearl Academy are the others in the cohort, focusing on sector-specific innovation and creative practices.

Dr Sunil Rai, Vice Chancellor of UPES, described the vision as one where technology is integrated into every campus process. “We are purposefully architecting an AI-native university where AI is woven into the very fabric of learning, teaching, research, and student life. AI literacy will be the default foundation for every student, every faculty member, and every campus process from day one,” he said.

Beyond campuses, OpenAI is also reaching out to the larger skilling ecosystem through edtech platforms like PhysicsWallah and upGrad.

By moving from simple access to institutional transformation, these partnerships aim to equip more than 1 lakh students and staff to lead in an AI-driven world over the next one year.

In July last year, OpenAI rolled out a ChatGPT feature called ‘study mode’, turning the chatbot from a simple answer machine into an interactive learning partner, marking a notable development in how AI can support education.

In August, OpenAI introduced an India-first initiative aimed to empower educators with AI tools and training, in collaboration with IIT Madras. This was backed by $500,000 in funding from the ChatGPT-maker.