OpenAI launches a free AI access program for 100,000 scientists

OpenAI launches the ChatGPT for Academic Researchers program — 100,000 researchers, mathematicians, and engineers will receive free access to the company's advanced models.

In the summer, 10,000 scientists will join the program, and by 2027, their number will grow to 100,000. Access is already open at several educational institutions, including the Institute for Advanced Study and École normale supérieure.

Participants will receive free access to the GPT-5.6 model family, including GPT-5.6 Sol Pro, an extended deep research mode, higher usage limits, and an increased context window. Each participant can invite up to four colleagues from their institution. By default, user data is not used to train models.

Researchers will have access to more than 75 tools for life sciences — genetics, genomics, sequencing, single-cell analysis, protein modeling, and drug discovery. Connectors to scientific literature, genomic and clinical data databases, satellite imagery, and computational notebooks are also provided.

The program is part of OpenAI's commitment to allocate over $250 million by 2027 to support external scientific research. This amount also includes the $50 million NextGenAI initiative and collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy's Genesis Mission to implement AI in national laboratories and universities.

Applications are now open — researchers from recognized educational institutions with a high level of scientific activity can participate.

Source: OpenAI