All students, faculty and staff will receive free access to ChatGPT Edu starting April 28, according to a campuswide email from Cal Poly’s Information Technology Services on Monday.
Unlike the public version of ChatGPT, ChatGPT Edu will prioritize user privacy, ensuring that activity within the platform is confidential and not used to train OpenAI’s public model, according to the email.
The move is part of the Cal State system’s push to promote innovation, digital fluency and ethical AI adoption across its 23 campuses, according to a Cal State press release. The Chancellor’s Office is funding this tool for the next 18 months as part of the system’s AI initiative, the email read.
“ChatGPT Edu is an optional resource made available to support your success — whether in academics, research or administrative work,” the email read.
Students and faculty are encouraged to use the tool ethically and in alignment with Cal Poly’s Academic Integrity Policies and the Cal State’s Ethical AI Guidelines, according to the email.
Following the initiative’s original announcement in February, faculty members voiced concerns about privacy risks and environmental impacts of deploying such a large-scale AI system.
What happens now?
Access, starting April 28, is limited to enrolled students and employed faculty and staff, according to the email. If users already have a ChatGPT account associated with their Cal Poly email, it will automatically migrate to ChatGPT Edu. Any existing paid subscriptions will be canceled, and prorated refunds will be issued by OpenAI.
This is a developing story, Mustang News will update as more information becomes available.