UK Varsity Grants Students Access To AI Platform ChatGPT

The University of Oxford says it has become the first UK institution of its kind to offer access to the education version of artificial intelligence (AI) tool ChatGPT to all of its students and staff.

ChatGPT Edu, which has been specifically developed for educational use by OpenAI, will be made widely available to Oxford students following a successful trial over the past year.

The rollout is part of an ongoing five-year partnership between the institution and OpenAI, which was announced in March.

Prof Anne Trefethen, the university’s pro-vice-chancellor for digital, said the rollout marked an “exciting step in our ongoing process of digital transformation”.

“There is huge potential for us to harness this to accelerate high-impact, curiosity-led research and innovation, and to facilitate breakthroughs that could address major global challenges,” Prof Trefethen said.
“All our students will be able to utilise ChatGPT Edu as an accessible tool for study, to enrich and personalise their learning, opening up new opportunities to explore and create.”

ChatGPT Edu is designed for university use and offers increased privacy and security to ensure that data is retained by individual institutions.

The university-wide launch follows a pilot scheme involving about 750 academics, students and staff in a wide range of roles across the university and its colleges.

Jayna Devani, OpenAI’s international education lead, said the Oxford scheme was “setting a new standard for how AI can enrich higher education”.

She said: “By making ChatGPT Edu available to everyone, Oxford is equipping all its students, academics and staff with the AI skills, tools and training they need to truly benefit from this transformative technology and succeed in the AI era.”

Alongside the software, a range of training on how to use ChatGPT Edu, as well as other generative AI tools, will also be made available.

The university said this would “emphasise ethical usage, critical thinking and responsible application”.

Source: BBC