Thinking Machines & OpenAI partner to boost AI skills in APAC

Thinking Machines Data Science has announced a collaboration with OpenAI to advance enterprise artificial intelligence adoption across the Asia Pacific region.

Through this partnership, Thinking Machines becomes OpenAI's first official Services Partner in Asia Pacific, and will deliver ChatGPT Enterprise training as well as Agentic AI implementation services to regional executives and organisations.

Industry research, including a recent IBM CEO study, has shown that while 61% of Asia Pacific enterprises report adopting AI, many struggle to transform this adoption into tangible business value. Challenges centre on gaps in executive capabilities and cultural adaptation hurdles. Thinking Machines, with support from OpenAI, intends to address these challenges by offering targeted hands-on training, bespoke implementation frameworks, and the development and deployment of custom Agentic AI applications that leverage OpenAI's application programming interfaces.

"The markets in the Asia Pacific are showing remarkable momentum in AI adoption, underscoring the region's readiness to embrace enterprise-grade solutions," said Stephanie Sy, Founder and CEO of Thinking Machines. "Through our collaboration with OpenAI, we're not just bringing in new technology but we're helping organisations build the skills, strategies, and support systems they need to take advantage of AI. For us, it's about reinventing the future of work through human-AI collaboration and making AI truly work for people across the Asia Pacific Region."

This collaboration is part of OpenAI's wider expansion strategy in Asia Pacific. OpenAI launched its regional headquarters in Singapore in late 2024, a country which now has the highest per-capita ChatGPT usage rates globally. Singapore's strong adoption aligns with its National AI Strategy, aiming to improve societal outcomes via AI technology.

"Across Asia Pacific, we are seeing business leaders eager to unlock new productivity gains and venture into innovative use cases with AI. This initiative with Thinking Machines will give leaders the know-how and hands-on support to embed our latest GPT-5 model into their daily operations, helping them move from experimentation to impact," added Andy Brown, Head of Go-to-Market, Asia Pacific for OpenAI.

Building on its established regional presence, Thinking Machines has already trained over 10,000 professionals in AI. The new collaboration will see the launch of an executive enablement programme, equipping senior executives with practical tools and techniques to employ AI strategically within their organisations. This programme covers not only technical skills but also strategies for "AI second brains", aiming to realise productivity improvements at an organisational level.

Alongside these training initiatives, the partnership will support a range of enterprise-focused services. Executive Leadership Programmes will address the specific requirements of C-suite leaders and senior managers, equipping them with the frameworks to implement AI responsibly, establish organisational governance structures, and drive measurable increases in productivity across business units.

Through its Enterprise Transformation Services, Thinking Machines and OpenAI will provide end-to-end support for enterprises adopting ChatGPT Enterprise. This support spans the design of bespoke workflows, integration with existing IT systems, and guidance through the organisational change process.

Another area of focus is the development of Agentic AI applications unique to individual organisations. Using OpenAI's API, these solutions are designed to embed each organisation's unique processes and culture to deliver targeted strategic value and enhance competitive positioning.

The collaboration also extends to thought leadership, with the companies planning to co-publish white papers and industry use cases relevant to the APAC context. Additional activities will include executive roundtables and industry forums with regional business leaders, aiming to ensure AI adoption is suited to the region's cultural, linguistic, and commercial specificities.

The programme will initially launch in Singapore, the Philippines, and Thailand, supported by Thinking Machines' regional offices in these countries. There are plans to expand the reach across the wider Asia Pacific territory in subsequent phases.

Looking forward, Thinking Machines aims to further develop its AI services for industries including financial services, retail, and manufacturing, drawing on the combined expertise of both companies to address the distinctive challenges and opportunities present in each sector.