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 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.

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.