Grab launches "GO Forward with AI" with OpenAI in Thailand: 3,000 gig workers to get AI training and 3 months of ChatGPT Plus

#What happened

Grab, Southeast Asia's super-app, announced on Wednesday (October 14, 2026) a new Thailand initiative with OpenAI at CNN's Global Perspectives event in Bangkok. The joint program will train 3,000 Grab gig workers across Thailand — drivers, sellers and other providers — through practical AI workshops delivered through the Grab Driver App. Participants also receive three months of free ChatGPT Plus access. Grab CEO Anthony Tan made the announcement at the event. Training topics include customer engagement and retention, marketing and branding, personal finance and first aid. The workshops teach agentic capabilities beyond one-off questions, such as delegating multi-step tasks, building simple websites and creating repeatable workflows.

#Why it matters

The Thailand launch is part of a broader Grab-OpenAI partnership aiming to upskill over 30,000 gig workers and entrepreneurs across the region over the next two years. The initiative was first announced last month, began in Singapore, and is set to expand to Indonesia and the Philippines later this year. OpenAI's Asia Pacific managing director Kiran Mani said the program turns Thai people's existing AI interest into practical skills. Grab has partnered with OpenAI since 2024; its in-app Driver AI Assistant has already reached over half a million drivers, helping them find demand, optimize earnings and resolve day-to-day questions.