Chats for university educators! Faculty from a dozen disciplines shared chats they use for teaching and research.

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.

Will Selviz and Manuel Sainsily shared their innovative use of AI, XR, and immersive media to preserve cultural heritage, promote inclusive creativity, and explore new storytelling paradigms. Through their collaborative project “Protopica,” they demonstrated how tools like Sora, ImageGen, and GPT-4 can empower global youth, democratize access to emerging technologies, and showcase the positive impact of AI on art, culture, and education. Their work exemplifies how AI can drive shared prosperity, enhance public engagement, and foster a globally inclusive creative ecosystem.