Clemson University has entered into an agreement with OpenAI to expand access to ChatGPT for Clemson users. The partnership will support the University’s newly created AI Initiative — a cross-disciplinary effort to create Clemson’s human-centered approach to artificial intelligence.
The partnership will provide faculty and staff with free access to ChatGPT Edu, a more capable, useful and ad-free version of ChatGPT customized for educational institutions. Clemson will also ensure students, faculty, and staff have enough capabilities to meet their needs, and an advanced version for researchers and developers providing even more powerful AI tools.
ChatGPT Edu is a secure, institutionally managed version of ChatGPT offering higher usage limits than the free version, with expanded access to OpenAI’s most advanced models and increased privacy controls. This agreement ensures that all information entered in Clemson’s ChatGPT model is contained in the Clemson information ecosystem and cannot be used to train larger AI systems outside the University environment.
“Expanding, and formalizing, access to OpenAI tools will allow our faculty, staff and students to responsibly explore new ways of teaching, learning and discovery,” said Clemson University Provost J. Cole Smith. “Clemson’s human-centered approach to artificial intelligence can enhance scholarship, education and impact across the University.”
Designed to allow faculty, staff and students the opportunity and access to artificial intelligence knowledge and experience, the agreement will also position Clemson to develop a long-term strategy for the use of AI at the University, from pedagogy to research and productivity, all aligned with the goals of Clemson Elevate and the broader AI strategy in South Carolina.
By giving the entire Clemson community of faculty, staff and students cost-free ChatGPT Edu access with this initiative, Clemson is continuing to lead the AI-landscape in responsible, creative and impactful uses across education, research and operations.
Clemson’s investment in AI extends beyond access to tools and systems. The University is also dedicating staff to develop and deliver programs that raise AI competency and capability across both academic and operational functions while ensuring human involvement in the adoption of the emerging technology. In addition, Clemson will expand advanced computing resources and provide additional skilled staff to support AI-driven research.
Additional information about how faculty, staff and students can access the license will be shared in the coming weeks.
