Indiana University expanding artificial intelligence offerings in the classroom

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – A new partnership is taking learning to the next level at Indiana University.

It all has to do with artificial intelligence.

IU is teaming up with Open AI to provide access to ChatGPT Edu. The goal is to help students and staff succeed in this ever-changing world of technology.

“We just see this as vital for workforce development,” said Scott Shackelford, associate VP and vice chancellor for research at IU Bloomington. “One thing we are hearing from employers already is they want students coming out of IU who can think critically about these tools but also just have some of that literacy, some of the basics of what these tools can and can’t do and how to integrate them in different contexts because like it or not they are not going away and they are only getting better.”

Access will be given to 120,000 students, faculty, and staff this school year. According to the university, this is the second-largest ChatGPT Edu rollout of all time for OpenAI. Now, many other colleges and universities are looking at IU as an example of leading the way in AI learning.

“We are, frankly, really excited about this deepening partnership with OpenAI,” Shackelford said. “Now that we have this whole menu of options for our students and researchers, it’s really gratifying.”

Leaders at IU say this is a historic step forward for the university. Not only will students incorporate artificial intelligence into everyday learning, but staff will also be looking at new ways to teach and prepare students for the workforce.

“It’s going to be incredibly important across, you name the field, just to know some of these fundamental principles,” Shackelford said. “So doing that early and doing it inside and outside the classroom, thinking critically about the ethical use of these technologies is vital and I am just so excited to see IU leading the charge here.”

Students can also take the new GENAI101 course which is new this year. It discusses ethical and practical uses of artificial intelligence across campus.