AI Collaboration Advances, ASU Strengthens Ties with OpenAI for Promoting Artificial Intelligence

Arizona State University (ASU) has taken a significant step forward in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI) by partnering with OpenAI, a leading company in AI research and development. This is the first such partnership in higher education for OpenAI.

The university has gained access to ChatGPT Enterprise, the premium version of OpenAI's technology. This version offers increased processing power, allowing users to input more data. One of the key advantages of ChatGPT Enterprise is its enhanced data privacy features.

ASU is not only leveraging this technology for research purposes but also emphasizing its importance in engaging the broader university community when partnering with AI. The university's focus is on using AI in three distinct areas: teaching, administrative tasks, and research.

In the realm of education, primary researchers and educators at ASU, including former Assistant Teaching Professor Christiane Reves and Kristin Elwood, director of digital initiatives and instructional design for the School of International Letters and Cultures, are working with the video version of ChatGPT. They are investigating its use in teaching, particularly in language learning, through an AI chatbot called Language Buddy.

ASU is also exploring the use of AI to streamline administrative tasks for both school administrators and educators. A computer science professor at ASU is using AI to analyse environmental data collected from satellites, while an English professor is studying the impact of AI on student performance in introductory writing classes.

Recognising the importance of guiding AI policies and practices, ASU has established a faculty committee with expertise in technology to oversee their AI partnership. Kyle Bowen, deputy chief information officer at ASU Enterprise Technology, stated that through collaborations like this one with OpenAI, they can guide the future of these technologies.

ASU values student input and offers AI trainings for educators, many of which are online and asynchronous. The university is currently accepting proposals from faculty to implement innovative uses of ChatGPT Enterprise. Additionally, resources such as Eduaide.Ai provide guidance on using AI for teaching purposes, while Sora offers information about the video version of ChatGPT for educators.

It's clear that Arizona State University is at the forefront of AI adoption in higher education, aiming to shape the future of AI technology while ensuring its benefits are accessible to the entire university community.