Professor AI: OpenAI Targets Higher Education with 'ChatGPT Edu'

OpenAI, in collaboration with Arizona State University (ASU), has announced the launch of ChatGPT Edu, a specialized AI platform that it claims will revolutionize the academic landscape.

Forbes reports that OpenAI has announced tailored version of its ChatGPT AI platform that aims to empower universities by deploying cutting-edge AI technology across academic, research, and operational teams on campuses worldwide. The partnership between OpenAI and ASU has been instrumental in shaping the development of ChatGPT Edu, ensuring its alignment with the unique needs and challenges of the academic environment.

Sam Altman, chief executive officer of OpenAI Inc., speaks with members of the media during the Allen & Co. Media and Technology Conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, US, on Wednesday, July 12, 2023. The summit is typically a hotbed for etching out mergers over handshakes, but could take on a much different tone this year against the backdrop of lackluster deal volume, inflation and higher interest rates. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images

ASU’s extensive experience in AI integration has played a crucial role in refining ChatGPT Edu. Through its AI Innovation Challenge, the university has conducted over 200 AI projects since January, providing invaluable feedback to enhance the platform’s functionality and usability for academic purposes. Lev Gonick, ASU’s chief information officer, emphasized the significance of this strategic partnership, stating, “ASU’s strategic partnership with OpenAI places us at the forefront of technological advances in education.”

Set to launch this summer, ChatGPT Edu is touted as being tailored to the educational sector. The platform incorporates the latest GPT-4o model, which offers advanced reasoning capabilities across text, audio, and vision. It also provides robust administrative controls, data security measures, and high usage limits to accommodate the diverse needs of universities. Elizabeth Reilley, executive director of AI acceleration at ASU, highlighted the platform’s alignment with the university’s principled innovation strategy, emphasizing the incorporation of community feedback to enhance its features.

Universities are already leveraging AI in innovative ways, showcasing the immense possibilities that lie ahead. For example, ASU’s School of Social and Behavioral Sciences is developing an AI tutor to support psychology students, acting as a real course tutor to deepen their understanding of the subject matter. Similarly, the university’s School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence is harnessing AI to tackle complex challenges such as traffic congestion, optimizing routes for both autonomous and human-driven vehicles.

Critics don’t think the addition of AI to universities is nearly as positive as OpenAI and ASU do. The flagrant cheating enabled by ChatGPT and other AI tools is disastrous for education. Breitbart News reported earlier this year that an astounding 22 million papers generated by AI were submitted by students.