While others debate AI's role, Estonia is innovating and set to become the first country to integrate ChatGPT into its entire school system.

While much of the world debates the role of artificial intelligence in classrooms, Estonia has made its decision.

The country will become the first nation to integrate AI products into its entire secondary education system through a groundbreaking partnership with OpenAI and Anthropic, two leading AI providers. The initiative will provide all students and teachers in Estonian secondary schools with access to ChatGPT Edu, a customised version of the AI assistant designed specifically for educational institutions.

The rollout will begin with 10th and 11th graders in September 2025 as part of the country’s AI Leap 2025 program. This project, developed through public-private collaboration, builds on Estonia’s reputation as a digital innovator, dating back to its 1996 Tiger Leap initiative that computerised Estonian schools. Since then, Estonia has propelled itself to the status of Europe’s leader in PISA scores and is ranked in the top five globally.

According to official materials, AI Leap 2025 is positioned as “A New Chapter in e-Estonia’s Development.” The programme aims to provide Estonian students and teachers access to “world-class AI-based educational applications, along with the necessary skills to use them effectively in their studies.”

It will initially include 20,000 high-school students in grades 10-11 and their 3,000 teachers from the beginning of the next school year on 1 September 2025. It is expected to cover vocational schools and new incoming 10th-grade students the year after, adding another 38,000 students and 2,000 teachers to the pool.

“Estonia’s competitiveness depends on how well we can prepare young people for the age of artificial intelligence,” said Kristina Kallas, Estonia’s Minister of Education and Research. The government plans significant investments in teacher training to ensure effective implementation.

“Future jobs won’t be taken by artificial intelligence, but by people who know how to use it better,” says Linnar Viik, an AI Leap initiator. He’s an innovation veteran and founder and former programme director of the Estonian e-Governance Academy, where he advised over 40 governments on digital strategy and transformation.

Estonia already shows remarkable ChatGPT adoption, with approximately one account for every four citizens. The country ranks among the top 15 globally for ChatGPT usage, with Estonians primarily using the tool for tutoring, teaching, programming and writing tasks.

As per press-release, OpenAI will provide technical support and knowledge-sharing for specific educational applications, including custom GPTs focused on teaching and learning. The AI tools aim to reduce teacher administrative burdens while helping students develop creativity and critical thinking skills. The incoming partnership represents OpenAI’s first government deployment of ChatGPT Edu, which has previously been adopted by individual institutions, including Harvard University, Oxford, and the California State University System.