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OpenAI seeks to increase global AI use in everyday life 

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on January 21, 2026

3 min read

· Last updated: January 21, 2026

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OpenAI seeks to increase global AI use in everyday life 
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SAN FRANCISCO, Jan 21 - OpenAI is expanding its efforts to convince global governments to build more data centers and encourage greater usage of artificial intelligence in areas such as education,

OpenAI seeks to increase global AI use in everyday life

OpenAI's Global Initiative for AI Adoption

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan 21 - OpenAI is expanding its efforts to convince global governments to build more data centers and encourage greater usage of artificial intelligence in areas such as education, health and disaster preparedness. 

Countries Involved in the Initiative

The initiative – called OpenAI for Countries – will expand the reach of its products and help close the gap between countries with broad access to AI technology and nations that do not yet have the capacity, the company said.

Applications of AI in Various Sectors

OpenAI also hopes to encourage deeper usage of its tools, adding that AI systems are capable of more complex tasks than many people realize. 

The Role of OpenAI Leadership

“Most countries are still operating far short of what today’s AI systems make possible,” the company said in a report shared with Reuters. 

OpenAI started the international initiative last year and appointed former British finance minister George Osborne to oversee the project in December. Osborne and Chris Lehane, OpenAI chief global affairs officer, are pitching government officials on the project this week in Davos.

The initiative is part of a broader strategy that has helped cement ChatGPT creator OpenAI at the vanguard of the modern AI boom. The company was most recently worth $500 billion and is exploring a public offering that could be worth as much as $1 trillion. 

Eleven countries have signed up for OpenAI for Countries. Each deal is structured differently.

Estonia, for example, is embedding OpenAI's education tool, ChatGPT Edu, into secondary schools across the country. In Norway and the United Arab Emirates, OpenAI is working with other companies to build data centers and become their first customer.

On Wednesday, OpenAI executives said they were hoping to work with governments in other areas, like disaster planning. In South Korea, OpenAI is exploring a deal with the government’s water authority to build a real-time, water-disaster warning and defense system against water problems driven by climate change. 

In its report, OpenAI said its typical “power user” - or those in the 95th percentile - reaches for OpenAI’s advanced reasoning capabilities seven times more often than a typical user. There are also big gaps within countries.

For example, in Singapore, which has broad access to AI tools, people send more than three times more messages about coding than average, the report said.

(Reporting by Deepa Seetharaman in San Francisco; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)

Key Takeaways

  • OpenAI is promoting AI use globally in education, health, and disaster preparedness.
  • The initiative aims to bridge the AI technology gap between countries.
  • Former UK finance minister George Osborne leads the project.
  • Eleven countries have joined the OpenAI for Countries initiative.
  • OpenAI explores AI applications in disaster planning and education.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Artificial Intelligence?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines programmed to think and learn. AI can perform tasks such as problem-solving, understanding natural language, and recognizing patterns.
What is a data center?
A data center is a facility used to house computer systems and associated components, such as telecommunications and storage systems. It is crucial for managing data and applications for organizations.
What is disaster preparedness?
Disaster preparedness involves planning and preparing for potential emergencies or disasters to minimize their impact. This includes creating response plans and ensuring resources are available.
What is economic growth?
Economic growth is the increase in the production of goods and services in an economy over a period. It is often measured by the rise in Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

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