Oxford university announces OpenAI partnership
The University of Oxford has unveiled a five-year collaboration with OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, one of the world’s most well-known AI tools.
As part of the partnership, students and faculty will gain access to funding and advanced AI tools to support teaching, learning, and research. Additionally, portions of the Bodleian Library’s public collection will be digitized.
OpenAI’s Chief Operating Officer, Brad Lightcap, emphasized the importance of working with the academic community to develop AI that benefits society. Through this initiative, Oxford researchers will have access to OpenAI’s latest models, including a version of ChatGPT tailored for educational use. Research grants will also be available for projects collaborating with the California-based AI firm.
The university stated that the partnership would help accelerate research in key areas such as health and climate change. Professor Patrick Grant, Oxford’s Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research, highlighted AI’s role in advancing scientific discovery and handling complex data. He stressed Oxford’s commitment to leading AI research and applying it to benefit both scholars and society.
As part of the project, previously unavailable Bodleian Library collections will be digitized and made accessible worldwide. Librarian Richard Ovenden noted that the library has long embraced technological innovation to fulfill its mission of preserving and sharing knowledge.
This collaboration stems from Oxford’s involvement in NextGenAI, an OpenAI-sponsored initiative that connects leading universities in the US and UK. Lightcap described NextGenAI as a catalyst for advancing AI research and empowering institutions to leverage its transformative potential.
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