OpenAI Launches First Higher Ed Partnership With Arizona State University

• Arizona State University is partnering with OpenAI, giving the university access to the company's AI capabilities including ChatGPT Enterprise.
• This is the first higher education institution OpenAI has collaborated with.
• The partnership will explore how ChatGPT and AI can be used in classroom, research, and administrative settings.
• A BestColleges survey found that 43% of college students have used ChatGPT or a similar AI application, and 61% think AI tools like ChatGPT will become the new normal.

OpenAI, the artificial intelligence (AI) company behind ChatGPT, and Arizona State University (ASU) are joining forces to expand access to AI tools in higher education.

The collaboration, OpenAI's first with an institution of higher education, will bring ChatGPT Enterprise to ASU's campus starting in February, according to a press release. The business-focused chatbot debuted in August 2023 and allows companies to build custom versions of ChatGPT.

"ASU recognizes that augmented and artificial intelligence systems are here to stay, and we are optimistic about their ability to become incredible tools that help students to learn, learn more quickly and understand subjects more thoroughly," ASU President Michael M. Crow said in the press release.

"Our collaboration with OpenAI reflects our philosophy and our commitment to participating directly to the responsible evolution of AI learning technologies."

Starting in February, ASU will begin accepting and evaluating ideas from faculty and staff for using ChatGPT Enterprise to enhance learning in three key areas: student success, new research paths, and organizational processes.

The partnership has been in the works for at least six months after ASU Chief Information Officer Lev Gonick first visited OpenAI's headquarters, CNBC reported.

Gonick told CNBC that the access to ChatGPT Enterprise will allow ASU to remove usage caps from students in ASU's popular prompt engineering course. The university may also use ChatGPT Enterprise to develop AI avatars to help students study certain subjects.

"The goal is to leverage our knowledge core here at ASU to develop AI-driven projects aimed at revolutionizing educational techniques, aiding scholarly research and boosting administrative efficiency," Gonick said in ASU's press release.

Since its launch in November 2022, students, faculty, and administrators have wondered if ChatGPT's rapidly improving ability to write essays, combat plagiarism, and even pass college-level exams will be good or bad for higher education.

A 2023 BestColleges survey of 1,000 current undergraduate and graduate students found that 43% of college students have used ChatGPT or a similar AI application and 61% think AI tools like ChatGPT will become the new normal. Of those who have used AI tools, 50% said they have used them to help complete assignments or exams.

AI is also an important topic of study for students pursuing a master of business administration (MBA) degree, BestColleges previously reported. Business schools have responded in the last year, integrating AI technology into their curriculum.

Beyond the classroom, AI technology is also poised to impact college admissions, student retention strategies, and administrative efficiency.