OpenAI Offers Free ChatGPT Access to 100,000 Academic Researchers

OpenAI announced on its website that it is launching ChatGPT for Academic Researchers, a program that gives 100,000 researchers at selected academic institutions free access to its frontier models. The program starts with 10,000 researchers this summer and is planned to expand through 2027.

Participants will get access to models including GPT-5.6 Sol Pro, along with ChatGPT, ChatGPT Work, and Codex tools. Approved researchers can invite up to four collaborators from their institution.

OpenAI said workspaces will include business grade privacy and security protections, and that data is not used to train its models by default. The program also includes training, support for research workflows, and opportunities for participants to provide feedback.

Eligible applicants must verify their institutional affiliation and provide information about active research and intended scientific use. Access is already available at institutions including the Institute for Advanced Study and École normale supérieure.