New research from OpenAI shows that some countries use AI for complex, multi-step work at rates 3x higher than others, creating a 'capability overhang' that could reshape economic competitiveness. The company is expanding its 'OpenAI for Countries' initiative to address this gap through education, healthcare, and infrastructure partnerships.
OpenAI's latest research reveals a troubling pattern: the gap in AI adoption isn't just about having access to ChatGPT—it's about how effectively countries are using AI for complex, productive work. According to the company's new report, "Ending the Capability Gap," the typical power user relies on about seven times more advanced "thinking capabilities" than the average user, employing AI for multi-step analysis rather than simple prompts.
This individual-level gap translates to significant national disparities. Across more than 70 countries with high ChatGPT usage, some nations use AI for advanced tasks at rates three times higher than others. The data challenges assumptions that wealth alone drives adoption. While the United States and India lead in total users, and Singapore and Netherlands show high population penetration, countries like Vietnam and Pakistan rank among the world's top users of agentic tools. These nations show more than double the per-person use of advanced capabilities like data analysis, Connectors, and Codex compared to their peers.
The implications extend beyond individual productivity. Countries using AI for complex problem-solving are already seeing real economic gains—freeing workers for higher-value tasks, accelerating product development, and driving innovation. This creates a self-reinforcing cycle where early adopters pull further ahead, while others risk falling behind in ways that become increasingly difficult to reverse.
OpenAI's response is the expansion of its "OpenAI for Countries" initiative, launched last year to help governments integrate AI into public services, education, and workplaces. The program moves beyond one-size-fits-all solutions, building partnerships that reflect local priorities and capacity.
At a recent World Economic Forum event, OpenAI announced 2026 expansions focused on six areas: education, health, AI skills training, disaster response, cybersecurity, and startup accelerators. The education component, "Education for Countries," represents the most detailed program announced. It aims to bring AI into education systems while simultaneously improving OpenAI's models through real-world feedback from partner nations.
The first cohort includes Estonia, United Arab Emirates, Greece, Jordan, Slovakia, Kazakhstan, Trinidad & Tobago, and Italy's CRUI (Conference of Italian University Rectors). The program combines expanded access to AI tools, large-scale research into AI's educational impact, training and certifications for students and educators, and a global community for sharing best practices.
The initiative's flexibility is its core design principle. Rather than imposing standardized solutions, OpenAI works with partners to identify specific needs. For education, this means helping governments treat AI as essential infrastructure—equipping students with skills while training educators to guide critical thinking rather than just tool usage.
The health component, "Horizon 1000," focuses on primary healthcare applications. The "Stargate Community" initiative appears geared toward building local AI ecosystems. These programs reflect a pragmatic understanding that AI adoption requires more than just access to models—it demands infrastructure, skills, and institutional readiness.
The research underlying these initiatives highlights a critical window of opportunity. As AI capabilities advance, countries that act now to improve adoption—scaling enterprise use, building AI-ready infrastructure, and increasing workforce fluency—can translate technological progress into concrete economic benefits. Those that don't risk watching the capability overhang widen into a permanent competitive disadvantage.
The full report, "Ending the Capability Gap," provides detailed methodology and additional country-level data. It represents OpenAI's attempt to move beyond hype and provide actionable insights for policymakers grappling with AI's uneven distribution.
Read the full report | OpenAI for Countries | Education for Countries
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