Indiana U. will offer ChatGPT Edu to all students

Indiana University administrators last week announced that, through a new partnership, they will provide the university’s 120,000 students with free access to ChatGPT Edu, a higher-education version of the large language model developed by OpenAI.

“Indiana University is empowering our students, faculty and staff to lead as AI transforms every sector of the economy,” IU President Pamela Whitten said in a press release. “Working with an industry leader like OpenAI gives the IU community cutting-edge tools that will enhance learning, increase efficiency and prepare our graduates to thrive in the careers of today and tomorrow.”

Faculty can begin requesting access starting Tuesday, while students will have to wait until Jan. 1.

According to the university, the offering represents the second-largest rollout of the software in the United States, but smaller deployments of artificial intelligence chatbots are becoming more common. According to the institution’s press release, the deployment “represents a significant step in bringing advanced AI tools that not only enhance the academic experience for its community but also help define AI’s role in the future of higher education.”