Cal State Launches ChatGPT EDU With Student Privacy Focus

ChatGPT EDU on campus. Credit: Dijia Wang / Mustang News

The California State University system has rolled out free access to ChatGPT EDU for its students, a move aimed at fostering innovation while prioritizing the privacy of student data. This initiative, which began on April 28, ensures that student search activities on the platform will remain confidential and not accessible to faculty members or university departments, according to Leslie Kennedy, Cal State academic technologies services assistant vice chancellor.

CSU Champions Innovation and Ethical AI

The deployment of ChatGPT EDU is a significant part of the Cal State system’s broader strategy to promote innovation, digital fluency, and ethical AI adoption across its 23 campuses, as highlighted in 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, as Mustang News previously reported.

Protecting Student Work and Ensuring Equity

"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. This effort to protect student work is further detailed on Cal State's website on artificial intelligence.

Ensuring all students across the Cal State system have access to ChatGPT EDU also addresses equitable access. Kennedy mentioned that thousands of Cal State users previously paid individually for premium GPT tools, while others were unable to afford the service. This new provision guarantees that all students have the same opportunity to use these advanced AI capabilities.

Student Perspectives on ChatGPT EDU

Students have responded positively to the new tool. Brandon De La Torre, an electrical engineering freshman, 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 also supports keeping student search activity private from faculty and departments, stating that privacy should be respected. He is glad the Cal State system welcomes innovation.

"I’d say the system getting students premium is a good thing," De La Torre remarked. "Obviously, AI is going to be a big part of our life in the future."