OpenAI (OPENAI) believes it can help level the global playing field in the capabilities of governments and their citizens by integrating artificial intelligence tools into an array of daily activities.
The Sam Altman-led company contends nations can use these tools to “raise productivity, strengthen institutions, and expand opportunity.” This includes the realms of education, health, AI skills training and certifications, disaster response and preparedness, cybersecurity and start-up accelerators.
It’s an initiative called OpenAI for Countries, which the Microsoft-backed (MSFT) company introduced last year. On Wednesday, OpenAI expanded this initiative with OpenAI’s Education for Countries program.
“It’s designed to help governments bring AI into their education systems in ways that strengthen learning and prepare students for the jobs of the future—and to work hand-in-hand with governments to improve our models and education tools,” OpenAI said.
OpenAI already has a slate of partner nations for its education program, including Estonia, the United Arab Emirates, Greece, Jordan, Slovakia, Kazakhstan, Trinidad & Tobago, and Italy’s CRUI.
OpenAI said that many of its users, even paying subscribers, are not utilizing the higher-capability tools that can increase the thinking power of an individual.
“Even among monthly active paying ChatGPT Enterprise users, 19% have never used data analysis, 14% have never used reasoning, and 12% have never used search,” OpenAI said in a report published today. “This is despite popular benchmarks that demonstrate AI’s proven capabilities to reliably solve a meaningful share of common knowledge worker tasks.”
“Major economies like the United States, India and Brazil lead in top users, and smaller, higher-income countries like Singapore and the Netherlands lead in population penetration,” the report noted. “However, Pakistan, Morocco, and Vietnam have the highest average usage of advanced thinking capabilities, outpacing many wealthier economies.”
OpenAI for Countries is trying to encourage more users to embrace these advanced tools and evolve beyond simply using its basic chat feature. OpenAI already has 11 partners for this program, including Argentina, Australia, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Norway, South Korea, the U.A.E., and the U.K.
“In the months ahead, OpenAI for Countries will continue expanding these partnerships—working with governments, educators, entrepreneurs, and public institutions to turn AI into practical capability across healthcare and education systems, workforces, public services, and other essential national functions,” OpenAI said. “They will help narrow the capability overhang and put AI into the hands of more people.”