OpenAI has launched a new research initiative aimed at better understanding how artificial intelligence is changing the economy, inviting outside academics and analysts to apply for collaborative projects.

The company said the new program, called the OpenAI Economic Research Exchange, is designed to support rigorous external study of AI's effects on workers, businesses, institutions and the broader economy. OpenAI said the effort is meant to move beyond anecdotal claims and build a stronger evidence base through empirical research grounded in real-world data.

Under the Exchange, selected researchers will work in structured, project-based collaborations with OpenAI Economic Research. The company said the goal is to produce credible, independent findings about how AI is affecting employment, productivity, entrepreneurship, education, inequality and other areas of economic life.

OpenAI said it is especially interested in proposals that explain how carefully governed, privacy-protected use of its tools and datasets could help answer important research questions. The company said these projects should be able to go beyond traditional datasets while still following clear safeguards for user privacy and responsible data use.

Researchers chosen for the program will work on narrowly defined projects with set milestones, data governance rules and review procedures. OpenAI said it is seeking applicants with strong empirical backgrounds and expertise in areas such as applied causal inference, measurement, labor economics, productivity, firms, education, entrepreneurship, public finance, regional economics, development and inequality.

The company framed the Exchange as part of a broader effort to measure the economic impact of AI more accurately. It said the initiative builds on OpenAI Signals, another program focused on improving measurement of AI's effects.

By supporting a range of external collaborations, OpenAI said it hopes to expand the body of evidence available to researchers, policymakers, businesses and the public at a time when many industries are adjusting to rapid technological change.

Applications for the Exchange are now open, according to OpenAI, with a deadline of July 5, 2026. The company said it will review submissions and notify selected researchers by July 31, 2026. Proposals will be judged on methodological rigor, feasibility, alignment with the program's priorities, clear milestones and the potential to contribute credible external evidence on AI's economic impact.

OpenAI directed interested applicants to its request for proposals and provided an email contact for questions about the process.

The announcement adds to a growing number of OpenAI initiatives tied to the measurement, deployment and commercial expansion of its technology. But in this case, the company is emphasizing outside scrutiny, saying the best way to understand AI's economic influence is through careful research conducted with independent experts.

As debate continues over how AI may alter labor markets and business operations, OpenAI's new exchange is an attempt to bring more structured evidence into the discussion. The company is betting that partnerships with external researchers can help answer questions that are likely to shape policy, investment and public expectations in the years ahead.