Grab announced a new partnership with OpenAI aimed at boosting the artificial‑intelligence skills of its gig‑economy workforce in Thailand. The “GO Forward with AI” initiative will train 3,000 Grab drivers, sellers and other providers through a series of hands‑on workshops delivered via the Grab Driver App.
Free tools and practical training
Participants will receive three months of complimentary ChatGPT Plus access, giving them a powerful conversational assistant for everyday tasks. Workshop topics include customer engagement, marketing and branding, personal finance and first‑aid basics, as well as how to use AI to automate multi‑step processes, build simple websites and create repeatable workflows.
Company leadership highlights the effort
Grab CEO Anthony Tan said the program is about turning AI accessibility into real earnings for gig workers. “Giving accessibility is just one thing. It’s how do you translate it again to earnings to their pocket, upskilling, reskilling every one of them,” he told reporters at CNN’s Global Perspectives event in Bangkok.
Grab’s chief organizational capability officer, Ong Chin Yin, added that many partners are eager for practical guidance on applying AI to their businesses and aspirations. “This program is about building that confidence – whether it’s helping a merchant make smarter business decisions or giving a driver‑partner the tools to explore a new business idea,” she said.
OpenAI’s regional perspective
Kiran Mani, OpenAI’s Asia‑Pacific managing director, emphasized that access alone is insufficient. “As we enter a new era of AI capabilities, it’s not enough for people to simply have access to AI. They also need the skills and confidence to use it, adapt as the technology changes, and share in the progress it creates,” he explained.
Mani noted that many Thais are already embracing AI, and the partnership aims to turn that interest into tangible skills.
Broader regional rollout
The Thailand launch follows a similar rollout that began in Singapore last month. Grab and OpenAI plan to expand the program to Indonesia and the Philippines later this year, with a goal of upskilling more than 30,000 gig workers and entrepreneurs across Southeast Asia over the next two years.
Since 2024, Grab has integrated OpenAI technology into its platform, including an in‑app Driver AI Assistant that the company says has reached over half a million drivers, helping them find demand, optimize earnings and resolve day‑to‑day questions.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
