OpenAI launches $50 million initiative to fund AI research in academia

OpenAI on Tuesday said it is supporting a new consortium, NextGenAI, aimed at advancing AI-assisted research at top universities.

Sharing the company’s blog post, OpenAI chief Sam Altman said on X, “excited for this—advancing research and education with AI.”



NextGenAI’s 15 founding academic partners include Harvard University, the University of Oxford, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Duke University.

OpenAI will provide $50 million in research grants, compute funding, and API access to support the initiative. Students, educators, and researchers will be eligible for awards, which will be distributed over the coming months.

“This initiative is built not only to fuel the next generation of discoveries but also to prepare the next generation to shape AI’s future,” OpenAI wrote in a blog post. “NextGenAI is designed to support the scientist searching for a cure, the scholar uncovering new insights, and the student mastering AI for the world ahead……As we learn from this initiative, we’ll explore opportunities to expand its reach and impact.”

The consortium, which OpenAI is positioning as an expanded commitment to education, follows the launch of ChatGPT Edu for universities last May. It comes at a time when AI research grants in the US face uncertainty.

“NextGenAI will accelerate research progress and catalyse a new generation of institutions equipped to harness the transformative power of AI,” Brad Lightcap, chief operating officer, OpenAI, said in the blog post.