ChatGPT for Academic Researchers to support 100,000 scientists with frontier AI by 2027 – Firstpost

OpenAI has announced the launch of an Academic Researchers programme, which will provide 100,000 researchers at selected academic institutions with free access to its frontier AI models, including GPT-5.6. The programme will begin with 10,000 researchers this summer and expand through 2027.

The selected institutions have not been specified by OpenAI. The programme aims to support scientific research by providing advanced AI tools often behind paywalls or usage limits. GPT-5.6 is described as a frontier model, though its exact capabilities have not been detailed in the announcement.

This initiative follows other OpenAI programmes offering free or discounted access to researchers, such as earlier access for academics and partnerships with universities. By 2027, the company expects to support a total of 100,000 researchers globally, though details on application processes and institutional criteria remain to be clarified.