Duke Unveils AI Suite With OpenAI Access For Campus

Exciting news is buzzing from Duke University! In a significant move to embrace the future of technology, Duke is partnering with OpenAI, the renowned artificial intelligence company. Starting next week, a pilot program will roll out, granting free and secure access to the advanced ChatGPT-4o model for students, faculty, and staff across several key academic units.

This initiative is a key component of a larger strategy by Duke's Office of Information Technology (OIT). The goal? To provide a comprehensive suite of Duke-managed AI tools that will enhance teaching, boost learning, accelerate research, and streamline university operations.

Duke Provost Alec D. Gallimore shared his enthusiasm, stating, "Generative AI tools like ChatGPT are transforming higher education — enhancing creativity, improving efficiency, and accelerating discovery. By making these tools widely available under a secure, Duke-managed license, the university aims to ensure equitable access while upholding institutional data privacy standards."

Exploring ChatGPT at Duke

Beginning June 2, Duke undergraduates will enjoy free, unlimited access to GPT-4o through this new pilot with OpenAI. But the access doesn't stop there! Staff, faculty, and professional students in several key schools—the Nicholas School of the Environment, the Sanford School of Public Policy, Pratt School of Engineering, Fuqua School of Business, and Learning Innovation and Lifetime Education (LILE)—will also receive this complimentary access. For other members of the Duke community eager to tap into this resource, licenses will be available at a significantly discounted rate.

A crucial aspect of this offering is data security. This specific version of ChatGPT operates under Duke’s institutional agreement with OpenAI. This means your conversations and data are protected and will never be used to train OpenAI's general models. While it's suitable for use with sensitive data as per Duke’s agreement (excluding protected health information), it doesn't directly connect with other Duke tools or systems. This forward-thinking pilot is a collaborative effort led by the Provost’s Office, Pratt, Fuqua, and OIT.

Introducing DukeGPT: Secure University-Managed AI

Launching in early June, DukeGPT is another exciting component of this AI suite. It offers an intuitive generative AI interface and provides a secure, university-managed platform for the Duke community to explore and compare advanced AI models. Built specifically for Duke, it's uniquely designed to integrate Duke models and tools, aligning with Duke data and best practices.

DukeGPT combines on-premise open-source options with cloud-based foundation models. This approach ensures maximum privacy and robust data protection, offering tailored resources and tools to boost learning, research, and productivity. It’s the ideal solution for those looking to explore both Duke-hosted and cloud-based AI models within a secure and user-friendly environment.

Future Innovations: MyGPT Builder and AI Gateway

Duke's AI ambitions don't stop there. Two more powerful tools are on the horizon:

• MyGPT Builder: This upcoming tool will empower users to create and manage their own customized AI environments. It's perfect for students, faculty, and researchers who need full administrative control to build tailored resources, experiment with various models, knowledge bases, and datasets—all within a secure, sandboxed environment designed to meet their specific needs.

• AI Gateway for Developers: Tailored for developers and advanced users, the AI Gateway will offer API access to AI models through LiteLLM. This will allow them to seamlessly integrate AI into their own applications. Members of the Duke community will gain access to LiteLLM API keys via a cost-recovery model, empowering them to build and deploy unique AI-driven tools, chatbots, and services using both on-premise and cloud-based models.

Embracing AI Responsibly: Guidance and Training

Using AI effectively is a skill that requires thoughtful practice. As technology and best practices continue to evolve, having reliable guidance is essential. This summer, OIT and LILE are stepping up to offer virtual training sessions designed to help everyone become more familiar with these tools and how to use them effectively. Don't worry if you can't make it live; the sessions will be recorded for later viewing.

Duke also provides a wealth of online resources to support responsible AI use:

• Undergraduate students should adhere to the Duke Community Standard for academic work and follow faculty guidance on AI use in coursework. Student leaders have also published helpful recommendations for ethical and effective AI use that are worth considering.
• Faculty can access valuable teaching resources and assignment guidelines provided by LILE.
• Staff can find guidance on Duke’s dedicated AI website: ai.duke.edu/ai-resources/work-with-ai.

The Broader Vision for AI at Duke

This comprehensive new initiative aims to do more than just provide tools; it seeks to contribute to a global conversation about the new horizons that AI can open up for us, and critically, how to navigate its development to prevent it from exacerbating some of our greatest societal challenges.

To learn more about Duke’s full suite of AI tools and find out about upcoming trainings, be sure to visit: oit.duke.edu/AI-Suite.