September brought a wave of announcements from universities, companies, and policymakers, each highlighting new ways AI is being used to improve learning access and outcomes. Personalized study tools and nationwide skilling initiatives make an appearance, alongside free offerings for students and teachers alike – here are the highlights.
Google’s NotebookLM rolled out new features designed to turn passive reading into active learning. Students can now generate instant flashcards and quizzes from their own materials, transforming lecture notes or research papers into interactive study sets. A new Learning Guide encourages deeper engagement by posing open-ended questions and guiding students through complex topics step by step. NotebookLM also introduced partnerships with OpenStax to provide vetted, peer-reviewed textbooks in interactive notebook form. With added audio formats like debates and critiques, the platform now supports multiple ways of understanding content, making it easier for students to test comprehension and retain knowledge.
OpenAI announced its India-first Learning Accelerator, an initiative that pairs research, training, and deployment to reach millions of students and educators. Partnerships with IIT Madras, AICTE, and the Ministry of Education are central to the effort, with $500,000 committed to research and half a million ChatGPT licenses set to be distributed nationwide. The Accelerator also introduces “Study Mode,” a personalized tutor that guides learners with structured responses and interactive questioning. By combining large-scale access with tailored training, OpenAI is strengthening India’s capacity for AI-enabled education while supporting long-term pedagogical research.
Arizona State University and Aethir launched a new partnership to give faculty and students direct access to advanced AI power in game-based learning environments. The collaboration, housed at ASU’s Endless Games and Learning Lab, comes with up to $3 million in cloud computing resources from Aethir. This investment will support student-led projects, applied research, and immersive educational experiences during the 2025–26 academic year. ASU leaders emphasized that scalable AI infrastructure allows researchers and learners to model “ambient learning” through gameplay, offering a replicable model for universities worldwide.
Google announced that millions of college students in the U.S., Japan, Indonesia, Korea, and Brazil can now access a free 12-month Google AI Pro plan. The package includes Gemini 2.5 Pro, NotebookLM, and Veo 3 for text-to-video creation, alongside Guided Learning, a new mode that deepens understanding through step-by-step questioning. In addition, Google committed $1 billion to U.S. AI education and training programs over three years, funding literacy programs, cloud resources, and AI Career Certificates for students nationwide. With more than 100 universities already enrolled, the program signals a major expansion of free access to advanced AI learning tools.
The White House AI Education Task Force announced new commitments with Microsoft to expand AI skilling and access across the U.S. Microsoft pledged free Microsoft 365 Personal with Copilot for all college students, $1.25 million in educator grants, and expanded LinkedIn Learning courses on AI. Additional partnerships with community colleges will provide no-cost AI training and certifications to faculty and staff serving more than 10 million students. These initiatives build on the Presidential AI Challenge and aim to connect AI learning directly to career opportunities, ensuring that skills gained in the classroom translate to workforce success.
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With examples like OpenAI’s ambitious accelerator, U.S. investments in college access, and the proliferation of free AI offerings for students, this tech is already a staple of classrooms, study routines, and nationwide learning strategy. As institutions, governments, and companies expand these initiatives, the opportunities for learners to build knowledge, develop skills, and prepare for future careers are multiplying. Looking to implement AI safely in your learning games portfolio? Let’s talk.