OpenAI Academy marks one year old milestone with global events and 670,000 members
Photo credit: OpenAI
OpenAI has marked the first year of its OpenAI Academy, a free online and in-person learning platform that provides resources, workshops, and communities to help people develop AI skills.
The update was shared in a LinkedIn post by OpenAI Global Affairs and reflects the program’s growth under the leadership of Alex Nawar, with support from Jane Kim.
One year of growth in reach and activity
According to the post, the Academy has connected more than 2 million people with resources and training in its first 12 months. Membership has grown to more than 670,000 globally. The platform hosted 18 in-person events across U.S. cities, attracting 2,500 attendees, including 1,000 nonprofit leaders and 1,000 scientists. Two international events took place in India and Mexico, and 37 virtual events registered nearly 90,000 attendees.
The program has also developed partnerships with organizations including Common Sense Media, CareerVillage.org, OATS from AARP, AI Impact Hub, and IDinsight. These contributions have shaped tailored resources for nonprofits, educators, government agencies, and professionals.
The LinkedIn post emphasized the impact of individual learners. A junior developer in Nigeria is quoted as saying, “Thank you for creating such an empowering and practical learning space. Your webinar gave me the confidence, clarity, and roadmap I needed to take action immediately — and within 24 hours, I launched my first custom GPT tied directly to a real-world trading problem. This kind of access and support isn’t just educational — it’s transformational.”
OpenAI noted that interest in the Academy helped drive the launch of OpenAI Certifications and the OpenAI Jobs Platform. Certifications are expected to roll out from late 2025 into early 2026.
Looking ahead to certifications and local hubs
The Academy currently provides online content, resources, and events in English, with plans to expand into additional languages. Registration is free, and OpenAI has invited community groups and academic institutions to host local events as the program scales.
In the LinkedIn post, OpenAI Global Affairs said, “The Academy has sparked innovation and empowerment in ways we never anticipated. Indeed, interest in the Academy was a key reason why OpenAI decided to launch OpenAI Certifications and the OpenAI Jobs Platform.”
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