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AI in Higher Education

Siya from OpenAI and Angela Virtu from American University's Kogod School of Business present a detailed overview of what it means to become an "AI-native university." They discuss the rollout of ChatGPT EDU, strategic AI curriculum development, cultural shifts in higher education, and how AI is transforming teaching, learning, and career readiness. Angela shares American University’s phased approach—from pilot projects to institutional integration and strategic transformation—with a focus on community building, ethical AI use, and workforce alignment.

The AI Culture Shift: American University’s Model for Change

This Forum session, led by OpenAI’s Jayna and ESCP’s Louis-David Benyayer, highlighted the transformative role of AI in education, particularly how institutions like ESCP are pioneering campus-wide adoption of generative AI (notably ChatGPT Edu). The session detailed experimental and scalable implementations of custom GPTs, reflections on responsible AI integration, and a broader philosophical shift toward preparing students for an AI-rich world. It underscored the value of change management, experimentation, and community-building in embedding AI tools meaningfully in academic and administrative settings.

From Experiment to Institution-Wide: How AI is Changing European Higher Education

The OpenAI Forum session featured two University of Maryland educators—Michel Cukier and Pam Orel—sharing real-world examples of integrating AI, especially ChatGPT, into their teaching. The conversation showcased practical applications, highlighted student engagement and learning improvements, and pointed to a larger vision of AI-enabled personalized education. OpenAI’s Kirk Gulezian framed the discussion within a broader mission to enhance, not replace, education, aligned with democratizing AI benefits and strengthening national competitiveness through innovation in education.

Teaching with AI: Faculty Stories from Maryland Writing & Engineering

The OpenAI Forum's first event of 2025 brought together Assistant Professor Iavor Bojinov from Harvard Business School (HBS) and Siya Raj Purohit from OpenAI's Education Team for a compelling discussion on the integration of artificial intelligence into education and business learning. Hosted by Natalie Cone, the forum highlighted groundbreaking efforts to establish AI-native universities and innovative strategies for incorporating AI into teaching and learning.


Siya Raj Purohit introduced the audience to OpenAI for Education's initiatives, particularly the launch of ChatGPTEDU in 2024. This enterprise-grade platform offers secure and collaborative tools for educators, students, and institutions to deepen engagement with knowledge. ChatGPTEDU fosters network effects on campuses by enabling professors to create custom solutions for their classes and allowing students to engage with content in an interactive, conversational manner. Siya also shared OpenAI's broader vision for AI-native universities, where students experience AI touchpoints throughout their academic journey—from orientation to career services and beyond. These innovations are designed to empower students to achieve their goals with greater efficiency and creativity.


Professor Iavor Bojinov shared the journey of integrating AI into the MBA curriculum at HBS. He detailed the development of the school's first AI-native course, "Data Science and AI for Leaders," which emphasizes foundational data science, AI, machine learning, and managerial decision-making. This course reflects a significant shift in business education, incorporating tools like ChatGPT, custom tutor bots, and advanced analytics bots to support interactive and practical learning. By redesigning the course as an AI-native experience, HBS has replaced traditional coding lessons with a focus on prompting, enabling students to engage deeply with data analysis while still addressing managerial challenges related to AI integration.


During his presentation, Professor Bojinov highlighted key lessons learned from his pioneering efforts. Training, he emphasized, is essential for students and faculty to adopt AI tools effectively. He also noted the importance of aligning AI applications with the curriculum to prevent confusion and ensure meaningful learning outcomes. Exposing students to a variety of AI platforms prepares them for real-world scenarios where multiple tools are used in tandem, and understanding the strengths and limitations of these tools is vital for success.


One of the standout features of the event was Professor Bojinov's hands-on teaching exercise, the "AI-First Snack Company." This activity enables students to explore AI's capabilities in market research, product development, and marketing strategies, providing an interactive way to learn prompting techniques and understand the creative potential of generative AI. The exercise also underscores AI's limitations, offering a balanced perspective on its applications in problem-solving and innovation.


The session concluded with announcements of upcoming events, including a panel discussion with OpenAI’s new VP of Education, Leah Belsky, and other academic leaders, as well as a session featuring the integration of AI in research led by Dr. Rojansky from Stanford University. The OpenAI Forum continues to prioritize meaningful collaboration and invites members to engage actively through its global chapters and referral network.


This event set the tone for 2025, providing valuable insights into the transformative potential of AI in education and fostering collaboration among academics and professionals. The discussions and initiatives presented underscored the pivotal role AI is poised to play in shaping the future of learning and professional development.

Teaching Data Science with AI at Harvard Business School

Virtual Event: The AI Culture Shift: American University’s Model for Change

Virtual Event: From Experiment to Institution-Wide: How AI is Changing European Higher Education

Virtual Event: Teaching with AI: Faculty Stories from Maryland Writing & Engineering

Virtual Event: Teaching Data Science with AI at Harvard Business School

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