OpenAI partners with six Indian universities to expand campus wide AI adoption

OpenAI has entered formal collaborations with six Indian universities and three major edtech firms to scale structured artificial intelligence adoption across campuses, signaling a move toward system-level integration rather than individual experimentation.

Announced on Feb 17, the initiative will begin with IIT Delhi, IIM Ahmedabad, AIIMS New Delhi, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, and Pearl Academy.

The company said more than one lakh students, faculty members, and staff are expected to gain enterprise access to ChatGPT Edu over the next year, along with faculty training modules and defined responsible use protocols.

OpenAI indicated that the partnerships are designed to embed AI into core academic functions, including curriculum delivery, research workflows, evaluation systems, and institutional operations, while incorporating academic integrity and ethical safeguards.

“By 2030, nearly 40% of core skills workers rely on today will change, driven largely by AI. Educational institutions are critical to bridging the gap between what AI tools can do and how people actually use them,” said Raghav Gupta, head of education at OpenAI India.

At IIT Delhi, AI integration will extend across undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral, and executive programs, supported by hackathons and industry engagement linked to manufacturing and deep technology sectors.

IIM Ahmedabad will implement ChatGPT Edu across its degree and executive offerings, incorporating AI applications into management areas such as finance, operations, strategy, public policy, and entrepreneurship.

AIIMS New Delhi plans to evaluate AI applications in medical training and clinical education, including a proposed hub focused on simulations, documentation support, and evidence synthesis with safety benchmarks.

MAHE will introduce cross-disciplinary AI capability tracks spanning engineering, health sciences, business, and hospitality programs.

UPES will apply AI tools across engineering, law, and health sciences programs, while Pearl Academy will integrate AI into design, fashion technology, and digital media curricula.

In addition, IIM Ahmedabad and MAHE will offer OpenAI certifications to formalize structured AI learning pathways.

To extend training beyond traditional campuses, OpenAI has partnered with PhysicsWallah, upGrad, and HCL GUVI to provide foundational AI and practical ChatGPT courses for students and early-career professionals.

The expansion reflects a broader shift in Indian higher education toward institutional AI adoption aimed at preparing graduates for evolving workforce requirements.