OpenAI has appointed Raghav Gupta, former Asia Pacific Managing Director at Coursera, to head its education vertical across India and the wider Asia-Pacific region. The announcement was made in New Delhi by Leah Belsky, VP & GM for Education at OpenAI, reflecting the company’s intent to strengthen its education initiatives in India—one of its fastest-growing global markets.
As part of this renewed focus, OpenAI also disclosed plans to open its first office in India later this year. The office will serve as a hub for rolling out India-specific education programs designed to accelerate the adoption of AI tools in classrooms. Among these initiatives is a learning accelerator program developed in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and the Ministry of Education. The program is aimed at equipping educators and students with the knowledge and resources to meaningfully integrate AI into teaching and learning processes.
To further support long-term academic research, OpenAI announced a $500,000 grant for IIT-Madras. The funding will back studies on how AI can enhance classroom experiences and improve cognitive learning outcomes, underscoring OpenAI’s commitment to responsible and impactful use of AI in education.
The company’s expansion strategy also extends beyond education. OpenAI is bolstering its sales presence in India by hiring for three new senior roles: Account Director, Digital Natives; Account Director, Large Enterprise; and Account Director, Strategics. These positions are intended to deepen engagement with enterprises and strengthen OpenAI’s customer ecosystem in the region.
Gupta’s appointment is a key milestone for OpenAI’s education agenda. With his background at Coursera, where he played a pivotal role in scaling online learning across Asia Pacific, Gupta brings a wealth of experience in bridging technology and education. His leadership is expected to guide OpenAI’s mission of ensuring AI tools can empower learners and educators at scale.
By combining leadership hires, academic collaborations, and research funding, OpenAI is signaling its long-term commitment to India’s education and enterprise markets, setting the stage for greater adoption of AI-driven learning solutions across the country.
