Student search activity on ChatGPT EDU will not be visible to faculty members or departments, according to Leslie Kennedy, Cal State academic technologies services assistant vice chancellor. The Cal State system rolled out free access to ChatGPT EDU to campuses on April 28.
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, Mustang News previously reported.
“A key objective of providing access to a paid version of GPT is to safeguard students’ intellectual property by preventing their work from being exposed to open or free versions of GPT tools,” Kennedy wrote in an email to Mustang News.
The effort is to protect student work, according to its website on artificial intelligence. Ensuring all students across the Cal State system have access to ChatGPT EDU gives students equitable access. Thousands of Cal State users previously paid individually for premium GPT tools, while others were unable to afford the service, according to Kennedy.
Electrical engineering freshman Brandon De La Torre said he turns to ChatGPT when he gets stuck on a problem.
“It usually explains things pretty well,” De La Torre said. “It’s like an improved version of Google. I think it’s a really useful tool.”
De La Torre supports keeping student search activity private from faculty and departments, saying privacy should be respected. He’s also glad the Cal State system welcomes innovation.
“I’d say the system getting students premium is a good thing,” De La Torre said. “Obviously, AI is going to be a big part of our life in the future.”