Hello OpenAI team and community,
I’m a high school student from France, currently in Seconde (equivalent to 10th grade in the US), and I’m passionate about computer science, artificial intelligence, and software development.
Despite still being in high school, I spend a significant amount of my free time developing software, learning new technologies, and turning my ideas into real projects.
I’m writing here because I would love to explore OpenAI’s API more extensively, but my financial situation as a student makes recurring API costs difficult to afford.
My projects
I currently have two main development projects that I’m particularly invested in:
1. Duelise
Duelise is a desktop agenda and planning application I’m developing.
The idea is to offer a practical and accessible tool that helps people organize their schedules directly on their computers.
I care a lot about software design, simplicity, and user experience. My philosophy is to create applications that are intuitive and easy to use while still offering useful capabilities.
Duelise is one of my most important projects, and I hope to keep developing and improving it over time.
2. Numverse
Numverse is a web platform dedicated to NumWorks graphing calculators.
The project aims to make it easier for users to discover and install games and applications on their calculators, including through browser technologies such as WebUSB.
My goal is to make this experience as accessible, intuitive, and convenient as possible.
Working on Numverse has helped me explore web development, hardware communication, and software design.
Both projects represent a significant personal investment, and they motivate me to keep improving my programming skills.
Why I’m interested in OpenAI’s API
I already pay for ChatGPT Plus, which I regularly use for learning, programming, and understanding technical concepts.
However, I would also love to experiment directly with OpenAI’s advanced models through the API, explore potential AI integrations, and build more ambitious software projects.
The main obstacle is the cost.
As a high school student, I have a limited budget. I can currently afford my ChatGPT Plus subscription, but continuously paying for API usage would be difficult.
I recently discovered the OpenAI Data Sharing Incentive Program, which provides complimentary daily API tokens to eligible organizations.
I checked my API organization settings, but unfortunately, I couldn’t find any indication that I’m eligible.
I understand that eligibility is restricted and might not be something that can be manually enabled.
What I’m hoping to find
I would really appreciate guidance on a few questions:
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Is there any way for an independent student developer to apply for the Data Sharing Incentive Program?
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Does OpenAI offer API credits, educational programs, or developer grants for high school students in France?
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Is there an OpenAI developer relations or education team I could contact to present my projects and explain my situation?
I’m not expecting unlimited access or asking for an exception to established rules.
I would simply love to find an opportunity to experiment regularly with advanced AI models without ongoing costs that are difficult for me to afford as a student.
I’m genuinely motivated to learn, create useful applications, and develop my technical skills.
If someone from OpenAI or the developer community knows of a suitable program, application process, or contact, I would be extremely grateful for any guidance.
I’m also happy to provide more information about my projects or demonstrate what I’ve been working on.
Thank you very much for reading my message and for your time.
Best regards,
A high school developer from France
(If possible, please share or repost this topic to help it reach the OpenAI team. I would really appreciate your support. Thank you!)