OpenAI launched its inaugural ChatGPT Futures program this week, naming 26 students and recent graduates as honorees. Each gets a $10,000 grant and access to the company's frontier models, per the official announcement. The cohort spans more than 20 universities, including MIT, Stanford, Oxford, and Waterloo.
The framing is generational. This year's graduates were freshmen in fall 2022, the same semester ChatGPT launched. OpenAI calls them the first class to start and finish college with the tool in hand.
Honorees are building accessibility tools, mental health resources, and scientific research projects, with the full lineup on the program page. OpenAI's VP of education Leah Belsky said the cohort represents students using AI "thoughtfully," which is the standard line for these programs. It also doubles as an early-talent pipeline for the company.
Total grant spend across the class works out to roughly $260,000. Honorees also pick up API credits, a ChatGPT Pro subscription, and an invitation to OpenAI's San Francisco HQ. The company hasn't said whether the program runs annually or detailed how the 26 were selected from applicants.
Bottom Line
OpenAI is paying out roughly $260,000 across 26 student honorees in the inaugural ChatGPT Futures class.
Quick Facts
- 26 honorees in the inaugural class
- $10,000 grant per honoree
- More than 20 universities represented
- Roughly $260,000 in total grant funding
- Honorees also receive frontier model access, API credits, and ChatGPT Pro
