OpenAI just announced its inaugural ChatGPT Futures Class of 2026, spotlighting 26 students and young builders who are using AI in creative, human-centered ways. This is the first generation to start and finish college with ChatGPT—they arrived on campus in fall 2022 as AI began reshaping learning and work. Many are already using AI not to cut corners, but to tackle ambitious projects they wouldn’t have attempted before. Examples include building study tools, translating mental health resources for underserved communities, advancing scientific research, and designing accessibility aids. Each honoree gets a $10,000 grant plus access to OpenAI’s frontier models. The common thread isn’t their major or background but a mindset of curiosity and action. OpenAI’s leadership notes these students prove AI can unlock agency rather than replace ambition, especially given that the barrier between identifying a problem and building a solution has shrunk dramatically. Why it matters: This class signals a shift where young people are leveraging AI as a catalyst for real-world impact, challenging the narrative that AI stifles creativity or work ethic.