AI in Education: Classroom to Campus

The conversation, featuring educator and California teacher of the year, Casey Cuny showcased how ChatGPT is transforming education. Cuny emphasized AI literacy as a moral imperative, framing AI as an opportunity. He spoke about democratizing AI benefits, boosting productivity, expanding educational access, and reinforcing the importance of ethical, human-centered use. The dialogue also highlighted teacher adoption, policy considerations, and workforce readiness—areas where democratic AI values, infrastructure investment, and shared benefits intersect.

Welcome to our virtual event, "Building an AI-Powered University," hosted by the OpenAI Forum. The session, moderated by Natalie Cone, OpenAI Forum Community Architect, began with a reminder of OpenAI's mission to ensure that artificial general intelligence (AGI) benefits all of humanity. The event featured a keynote speech by Leah Belsky, VP of Education at OpenAI. Leah discussed the transformative potential of AI in education, emphasizing the goals of enabling global access to AI for students and teachers, powering AI-driven educational products, and fostering collaboration to enhance AI's educational impact. The panel included Jason Horn, a technology investment banker and the evening's facilitator, who has a rich background in the education technology sector; Alex Persaud, Assistant Vice President of Enterprise Engineering and Operations at the University of Maryland, who manages critical infrastructure and co-chaired the university’s AI commission; Dr. Jaci Lindberg, who combines roles at the University of Nebraska to push innovation in digital learning and IT strategy; and David Brubaker, who leads AI initiatives at the Wharton School, focusing on aligning AI with educational priorities. During the discussion, panelists shared their diverse experiences with AI implementation at their institutions. They highlighted the impact of AI tools like ChatGPT in enhancing both the student and faculty experience and improving operational efficiencies across university functions. The session transitioned into a virtual networking event, allowing participants to engage directly with thought leaders and peers interested in AI's future role in education. The event concluded with Natalie Cone encouraging participants to continue the dialogue on AI in education through upcoming OpenAI Forum events and platforms like LinkedIn and Substack, fostering ongoing collaboration and innovation in the field.

The OpenAI Forum hosted an engaging session titled "Harvard’s AI-Enhanced Classroom: Revolutionizing Learning with Custom GPTs", featuring Jake Cook from Harvard Business School and Siya Raj Purohit from OpenAI. Siya provided insights into AI-native universities, showcasing how ChatGPT transforms education at individual, team, and institutional levels. Jake presented real-world applications of AI in his classroom, emphasizing creative experimentation, personalized learning, and the power of play to unlock students' potential. The event highlighted innovative uses of AI, including custom GPTs for dynamic teaching and adaptive learning, fostering both efficiency and critical thinking. The discussion underscored AI's role in reshaping education and left participants with actionable insights and strategies for adoption.

The recent OpenAI Forum event titled "How Wharton is Becoming an AI Native Institution" was a fascinating discussion led by Natalie Cohn, OpenAI Forum’s Community Architect, and featured experts like Dr. Richard Paul Waterman, a professor from Wharton, as well as his collaborators, MBA students Nupur Jain and Ceren Okar, and IT project lead Brandon Lafving. The event highlighted how Wharton has integrated AI into its educational framework, focusing on Dr. Waterman’s AI-based tools such as the "StatBot". These innovations aim to enhance the learning experience by automating tasks like summarizing lectures and improving faculty collaboration through data sharing. The team shared insights into the process of AI adoption, emphasizing that the demand for AI-powered tools is growing, with students driving the initial engagement. Throughout the event, participants also discussed broader trends in AI adoption within higher education, including how faculty and administrators can overcome challenges by integrating AI more seamlessly into the curriculum. Sia Raj Purohit, OpenAI’s education leader, further outlined a three-stage framework for AI transformation in universities, beginning with individual faculty adoption, moving toward department-level collaboration, and culminating in full organizational integration. Dr. Waterman and his collaborators demonstrated how Wharton is leading the way in AI-native education, both with student-focused AI tools and faculty-driven innovations, providing a glimpse into the future of higher education powered by AI.