Estonia is set to launch an ambitious AI initiative, “AI Leap,” aimed at equipping students and teachers with essential digital skills using AI tools like an educational version of ChatGPT. The program will begin in September 2025, initially reaching 20,000 high school students and 3,000 teachers. By 2026, the initiative is expected to expand to vocational schools, benefiting an additional 38,000 students and 3,000 educators.
Estonia’s Education and Research Minister, Kristina Kallas, emphasized the critical importance of preparing the workforce for the age of artificial intelligence to maintain the country’s economic competitiveness. “How well we can prepare young people for the age of AI is directly tied to our competitiveness,” Kallas said. As part of the program, the country also plans to invest in teacher training to ensure effective AI integration.
The initiative is being carried out through a public-private partnership, with negotiations underway with AI companies OpenAI and Anthropic. OpenAI expressed its support for the project, highlighting that Estonia’s adoption of ChatGPT Edu, a specialized version for education, will better equip students for future workforce demands. OpenAI also noted that Estonia ranks among the top 15 countries globally in terms of ChatGPT usage.
Neerav Kingsland, head of business development at Anthropic, praised the initiative, saying Estonia is setting a precedent that other countries may follow. “We’re proud to support Estonia’s vision of using AI to enhance education,” Kingsland stated.
The move comes as the European Union aims to boost digital literacy, targeting 80% of Europeans with basic digital skills by 2030. Estonia’s forward-thinking approach positions it as a leader in integrating AI into education systems globally.
Source:
- Euronews Next
- Estonian Ministry of Education
