Odisha Partners With OpenAI to Train Students and Officials in AI

The Odisha government has partnered with OpenAI for multiple initiatives, including building AI skills among students and government officials, piloting AI-led public-sector applications, and supporting Odia-language use cases.

Under the collaboration, OpenAI will deliver structured online AI training programmes for college students across Odisha. The company will also conduct training sessions for state-level government officials, focusing on the practical use of AI tools, productivity applications, and responsible adoption in governance.

To support pilot projects, OpenAI will provide API credits for its core models to Odisha’s Electronics and Information Technology Department. These credits will be used to develop initial applications, including a Government Productivity Co-Pilot that uses ChatGPT as its backend.

“For AI to truly deliver public value, it must be accessible, practical, and grounded in local context,” said Pragya Misra, head of strategy and global affairs, OpenAI India, in a statement. “Our work with the Government of Odisha will focus on building AI capabilities at scale among students and public officials, while supporting real-world applications that can strengthen public service delivery and innovation.”

Manas Panda, special secretary to the government and managing director of Odisha Computer Application Centre, said the state is prioritising digital capacity building across education and governance. “Our collaboration with OpenAI will help scale AI awareness and skills among students and government officials,” he said.

The partnership aligns with the Government of India’s IndiaAI Mission and Odisha’s broader efforts to strengthen digital governance and emerging technology capabilities, the state government said. It aims to support responsible AI adoption and the development of locally relevant applications for public service delivery.