A new joint initiative between OpenAI and ride-hailing giant Grab will train 30,000 gig workers and small business merchants across Southeast Asia in practical AI skills. The program, "GO Forward with AI," teaches practical tech literacy instead of abstract computer coding. For parents and educators, this experiment shows how children will need to use AI in their future careers.
What Happened
According to the official OpenAI announcement, the program will roll out over the next two years. It starts in Singapore and expands to Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines later this year, followed by Malaysia and Vietnam in 2027. Participants learn to use ChatGPT to write business plans and analyze sales data. An internal survey cited in the OpenAI announcement shows that half of Grab's Singapore partners already use AI, and 87% of non-users are open to trying it. Grab previously launched its Driver AI Assistant, which now reaches nearly 500,000 drivers.
The Bigger Picture
This training matches a shift in educational research. Researchers argue that AI literacy is an extension of digital literacy rather than a separate skill. A 2026 conceptual framework on knowledge work shows how modern workers must collaborate with intelligent systems.
AI lowers the barrier to starting a business. A study in Discover Education found that putting ChatGPT into entrepreneurship classes increases students' likelihood of starting a business. Research in Technology, Knowledge and Learning also shows that generative AI helps students build confidence in their careers. A pilot project analyzed in Edelweiss Applied Science and Technology showed that generative AI reduced the time needed to draft a startup business plan from four weeks to one week. However, the authors note that while AI cuts paperwork, schools still need controlled studies to measure long-term learning.
Educators debate whether these tools replace computer science skills. Some training, like Maven's Agentic Ventures course, suggests agentic software lets people build systems without writing code. Other programs argue that basic coding remains necessary. For example, Wolf Courses' Responsive Web Development program requires students to master HTML, CSS, and JavaScript before using generative AI. Similarly, learning to use AI Browser Agents with Python and Playwright requires basic programming to catch errors and avoid security risks.
What This Means for Families
This shift shows that future employers will value AI oversight more than coding from scratch. Schools will need to adjust their lessons. As we previously reported on aligning classroom technology, school systems must standardize how students use AI to protect critical thinking. Research in the American Journal of STEM Education shows that informal, hands-on STEM activities are great ways to help students learn AI skills.
What You Can Do
Parents can help children prepare by teaching them to delegate and audit. Have your children use ChatGPT as a planning assistant, but require them to check and correct the output.
Basic skills still matter. Do not let kids skip writing, math, or coding, because understanding these basics helps them catch AI errors.
Finally, run small business projects. Help your child use AI to plan a small service, like pet-sitting, to see how the technology quickly organizes ideas into action.