How Indiana University Is Leading AI in Higher Education

Indiana University is making significant strides in integrating artificial intelligence into its academic environment, launching new tools and resources for both students and faculty. The university recently released a foundational GenAI 101 course and is planning a large-scale rollout of ChatGPT Edu.

IU's Vision for an AI-Powered Campus

With generative AI becoming an increasingly common tool for college students—a recent survey by Inside Higher Ed showed 85% have used it for schoolwork—Indiana University is taking a proactive approach.

“Indiana University is empowering our students, faculty and staff to lead as AI transforms every sector of the economy,” IU President Pamela Whitten stated in an August press release. “Working with an industry leader like OpenAI gives the IU community cutting-edge tools that will enhance learning, increase efficiency and prepare our graduates to thrive in the careers of today and tomorrow.”

Getting Started with GenAI 101

The university's new GenAI 101 course was co-developed by technology experts Brian Williams and Anne Leftwich, alongside a team of over 40 contributors. The course is designed for beginners, assuming no prior knowledge of generative AI.

Presented through eight modules and 31 short, YouTube-style videos, the course takes about four and a half hours to complete. It even features an animated AI assistant named Crimson. By the end, students learn practical skills, including how to create their own custom AI assistant.

Brian Williams, who chairs the Virtual Advanced Business Technologies Department in the Kelley School of Business, explained that the goal was to create a practical, skill-based course that teaches students to use AI as a "thought partner." This initiative, part of IU's new “AI Academy,” has already seen massive interest, with over 30,000 people starting the course by early September. Its success is turning heads nationally, with institutions like Harvard University reaching out to learn from IU's approach.

Williams also acknowledged the challenges, stating, “There’s real concerns with AI and environmental issues... copyright issues... or there’s real concerns with ethical issues.” The course directly addresses these by reminding learners that AI can make mistakes and is not a substitute for their own work.

Enhanced and Secure Access with ChatGPT Edu

In addition to the course, IU is preparing to launch ChatGPT Edu. According to co-creator Anne Leftwich, this version offers the premium features of ChatGPT Pro but with a crucial layer of added security. Any data from the IU community entered into ChatGPT Edu will not be used to train OpenAI's models, protecting university privacy.

This is a significant move, especially since over 30,000 individuals have already used the free version of ChatGPT with their IU emails. The rollout, which is the second largest of all time for OpenAI, is already available to faculty and staff, with student access planned for January 1. During a summer pilot, 80% of faculty testers found ChatGPT to be the most effective tool for their teaching and research.

Fostering Responsible Use and New Learning Models

Experts at the university emphasize that the key is teaching responsible and effective use. “If a student is using it to cheat, then obviously it's not a good learning tool,” Leftwich said. “However, if a student is using it for a way to brainstorm, to iterate, to get feedback... then those can be exceptional ways, in my mind, to learn.”

Leftwich believes the rise of AI challenges educators to rethink traditional assignments. She advocates for more experiential, hands-on learning that AI cannot easily replicate.

Students are also embracing the change. Jonah Katz, president of the new student organization Advances in Technology & AI Tools, called the initiative a “great step” that “lowers barriers for students to use AI responsibly.” He added that clear expectations from professors are crucial for success.

“This is an innovation that isn’t going to go away and it’s only going to progress over time,” Katz noted. “It’s important to be at the forefront of this transformation rather than be left behind.”