OpenAI and the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) on Monday said they are setting up a USD 500,000 research collaboration to examine how artificial intelligence (AI) can strengthen learning outcomes and pedagogy.
The agreement, signed as part of pre-events for Indian government's flagship AI event, AI Action Summit 2026, will focus on long-term studies aligned to cognitive neuroscience, with findings shared publicly to inform future product development.
The research initiative forms the centrepiece of the “OpenAI Learning Accelerator,” an India-first programme that also includes partnerships with the Ministry of Education, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and ARISE schools.
OpenAI said it plans to distribute about five lakh ChatGPT licenses to educators and students across the country, alongside AI training programmes and a new study mode designed as a personalised tutor.
“We believe AI has incredible potential to empower educators and learners. To realise that potential, we must work side by side with educators and institutions. This effort is critical to OpenAI’s mission of ensuring 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,” said Leah Belsky, VP of Education, OpenAI.
OpenAI also named Raghav Gupta, former India and APAC managing director at Coursera, as its new Head of Education for India and Asia Pacific.
This development follows OpenAI’s recent India-focused initiatives, including plans to open its first office in New Delhi later this year and the rollout of a Rs 399/month ChatGPT Go plan with UPI payments. |
