OpenAI has rolled out its Learning Accelerator program in India, offering 500,000 free ChatGPT licenses to students and educators across government schools, AICTE-regulated institutions, and ARISE K–12 schools. The initiative, launched in partnership with the Ministry of Education and technical bodies, is accompanied by a ₹4.5 crore grant to IIT-Madras for research on AI’s impact in classrooms.
The company positions the program as a step to democratize AI access, making ChatGPT a tool for lesson planning, interactive learning, and digital upskilling. OpenAI insists the effort is about building AI literacy and responsible usage, not commercial gain.
However, experts warn the initiative may serve as subtle marketing, potentially encouraging students to depend on AI for assignments, projects, or even exam preparation—raising concerns over long-term learning outcomes.
To address these risks, OpenAI has bundled AI training modules and a special Study Mode, designed to guide students through reasoning instead of simply giving answers. This is aimed at ensuring ChatGPT acts as a tutor rather than a shortcut.
While framed as a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative, critics argue the program simultaneously builds OpenAI’s brand presence in Indian classrooms, cultivating habits that could convert into future paying users once free licenses expire.
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