Grab announces new Thailand initiative with OpenAI

Southeast Asia’s multi-purpose app Grab will work with OpenAI to boost the AI skills of its drivers, sellers and other providers in Thailand, the Singapore-based company announced on Wednesday. The joint program plans to train 3,000 Grab gig workers across Thailand to tap into new sources of income through a series of practical AI workshops. Participants will also receive three months of free ChatGPT Plus access. “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, and that’s why today I’m here in Thailand,” Grab CEO Anthony Tan said in an exclusive announcement at CNN’s Global Perspectives event in Bangkok. Workshops will be delivered through the Grab Driver App. Featured training topics include customer engagement and retention, marketing and branding, personal finance and first aid. Grab began as a ride-hailing service and later expanded into food delivery, digital payments and business solutions for local small businesses. The regional tech giant operates in eight countries and over 900 cities across Southeast Asia. The “GO Forward with AI” launch in Thailand is part of a broader partnership with OpenAI that aims to upskill over 30,000 gig workers and entrepreneurs across the region over the next two years. The initiative was first announced by Grab and OpenAI last month. Beginning in Singapore, it was subsequently expanded to Thailand and was said to be launching in Indonesia and the Philippines later this year, according to the companies’ statements. Through the AI training provided, Grab envisions that participants would be able to tap AI agentic capabilities – such as delegating multi-step tasks, building simple websites and creating repeatable workflows – beyond asking one-off questions. “Our partners are intrigued by AI, and many are looking for practical guidance on how to apply it in ways that are relevant to their work, businesses and aspirations,” said Ong Chin Yin, Grab’s chief organizational capability officer, in the September statement. “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 and create new opportunities for growth,” she added. “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,” said Kiran Mani, OpenAI’s Asia Pacific managing director, in a Wednesday statement. “People across Thailand are already embracing AI, and through GO Forward with AI, we’re excited to work with Grab to turn that interest into practical skills,” he added. Grab has partnered with OpenAI since 2024, launching several AI applications, including its in-app Driver AI Assistant that it says has reached over half a million drivers and helped them find demand, optimize earnings and resolve day-to-day questions.