OpenAI launches NextGenAI: $50M consortium of 15 elite institutions to advance AI in research and education

OpenAI just unveiled NextGenAI, a new consortium that brings together 15 major research institutions to drive AI’s role in education and research. Backed by $50 million in grants, compute resources, and API access, the initiative is OpenAI’s latest move to deepen its ties with academia and accelerate breakthroughs that wouldn’t happen as quickly in isolation.

Introducing NextGenAI—a first-of-its-kind consortium uniting 15 leading institutions using AI to advance research and education, founded with $50M in funding and tools from OpenAI. https://t.co/6rybRcJvGG

— OpenAI Newsroom (@OpenAINewsroom) March 4, 2025

NextGenAI: OpenAI Powers $50M Consortium of 15 Top Institutions to Revolutionize Research and Education with AI

“Today, we’re launching NextGenAI, a first-of-its-kind consortium with 15 leading research institutions dedicated to using AI to accelerate research breakthroughs and transform education,” Open announced on its website.

AI Meets Academia

The consortium includes heavyweights like Harvard, MIT, Oxford, and Duke, alongside institutions such as Howard University, the California State University system, and the Boston Public Library. Each partner is taking a different approach to AI research—whether it’s improving healthcare, refining educational tools, or experimenting with new scientific methods.

At Ohio State University, AI is already shaping fields like digital health, advanced therapeutics, and agriculture. Harvard and Boston Children’s Hospital are using NextGenAI’s resources to speed up rare disease diagnosis while making AI-driven medical decisions more aligned with human judgment. Duke University is focusing on the science behind science—figuring out where AI can bring the biggest breakthroughs.

Peter J. Mohler from Ohio State calls the partnership an opportunity to “drive even more groundbreaking discoveries” in medicine, manufacturing, and computing.

Teaching AI Literacy

Beyond research, NextGenAI is focused on preparing students to work with AI. Texas A&M is launching an AI literacy initiative, giving students hands-on experience with generative models. MIT students will get direct access to OpenAI’s tools to train and refine their own models. Howard University plans to weave AI into its curriculum while testing new teaching methods and improving school operations.

Dr. Robert H. Bishop from Texas A&M sees the initiative as a way to “empower our students, researchers, and the broader academic community” with skills in generative AI.

AI-Powered Universities and Libraries

Some institutions are applying AI to long-standing academic challenges. Oxford’s Bodleian Library is digitizing rare manuscripts, using OpenAI’s tools to transcribe them so scholars can search centuries-old texts instantly. The University of Mississippi is exploring AI’s role in education and student services, while Boston Public Library is working on making public domain materials more accessible through AI-driven organization and search tools.

Anne Trefethen from Oxford sees the collaboration as a way to “expand our AI capabilities and foster skill development.”

Strengthening the Academia-Industry Connection

OpenAI’s Chief Operating Officer, Brad Lightcap, pointed out that AI’s progress has always been tied to academic research. He sees NextGenAI as a way to keep that momentum going while ensuring AI’s benefits reach more people in education, medicine, and research.

This effort builds on OpenAI’s previous education push, including the launch of ChatGPT Edu in May 2024, which gave universities broader access to AI tools. NextGenAI takes it a step further by offering institutions direct funding and tech support to fuel new innovations.

For OpenAI, this is about more than research—it’s about making sure students, scientists, and educators aren’t left behind in AI’s rapid evolution. The company says it will keep expanding the initiative based on what works, with more updates to come as its partners continue pushing boundaries.