Odisha Brings OpenAI into Colleges and State Departments for AI Training AI Training for Colleges and State Officials

The Odisha government has entered into a partnership with OpenAI to expand artificial intelligence skills across higher education and the state administration, while testing how AI tools could be used inside public offices. The collaboration also places specific emphasis on building use cases in the Odia language.

As part of the initiative, OpenAI will roll out online AI training programmes for college students across the state. Separate sessions will be held for senior and mid-level government officials, with a focus on everyday applications of AI—how tools can assist with documentation, analysis, and routine administrative work, and where their use should be handled with caution.

OpenAI will provide API credits to Odisha’s Electronics and Information Technology Department, enabling departments to experiment with internal tools. One of the first projects under consideration is a Government Productivity Co-Pilot built on ChatGPT, intended to support officials in day-to-day tasks rather than replace decision-making.

Pragya Misra, head of strategy and global affairs at OpenAI India, said the collaboration is aimed at practical adoption rather than abstract capability building. “For AI to deliver public value, it has to be accessible, useful in real settings, and rooted in local needs,” she said. The focus, she added, is on equipping students and public servants with skills they can apply immediately, while encouraging responsible use.

Manas Panda, special secretary to the government and managing director of the Odisha Computer Application Centre, said the state is looking to widen AI awareness across both classrooms and government offices. According to the state government, the effort aligns with the Centre’s IndiaAI Mission and Odisha’s own plans to develop technology-led public services, with an emphasis on solutions that reflect local language and administrative realities.

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