Oxford University to partner with OpenAI

The University of Oxford has announced a five-year partnership with OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT.

The collaboration aims to provide students and staff with funding and advanced AI tools to enhance teaching, learning, and research.

As part of the agreement, some of the Bodleian Library’s public collection will also be digitised, making previously inaccessible materials available to a global audience.

Brad Lightcap, OpenAI’s chief operating officer, said:

“Continued collaboration with the academic community is essential to build AI that benefits everyone.”

Oxford researchers will gain access to OpenAI’s latest models, including a version of ChatGPT built specifically for educational institutions.

The university said this would allow researchers to explore new applications of AI across various disciplines.

Research grants will also be available for projects that involve working with OpenAI.

The university said the partnership would help accelerate research in fields such as health, climate change, and computational sciences.

It also aims to support interdisciplinary projects that bridge the gap between AI and the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.

Professor Patrick Grant, pro vice-chancellor for research at Oxford, said:

“Artificial intelligence is accelerating the pace of scientific discovery and enabling researchers to work with increasingly complex data sets.

“The university aims to be at the forefront of AI research and the application of AI for all researchers, by producing ground-breaking studies to help both scholars and society not only adapt to these technologies but also harness them wisely to their full potential.”

Bodleian Library collections that have never been available online before will also be digitised as part of the initiative.

These resources will be accessible to students, researchers, and the wider public around the world.

Librarian Richard Ovenden said: “The Bodleian’s mission is to acquire, preserve and make available knowledge for the benefit of our students, researchers and the wider public.

“Over the centuries we have constantly sought new ways to take this mission forward and have in more recent years been an innovator in the use of technology.”

The partnership follows Oxford’s involvement in NextGenAI, a project that includes top universities in the US and UK, sponsored by OpenAI.

The initiative aims to advance AI research and strengthen collaboration between academia and industry.

Mr Lightcap said: “The NextGenAI initiative will accelerate research progress and catalyse a new generation of institutions equipped to harness the transformative power of AI.”

Oxford’s role in the project highlights its commitment to shaping the future of AI research while ensuring that emerging technologies are used ethically and effectively.

The university said it would continue to develop policies and guidelines for responsible AI use, ensuring that its integration into research and education benefits both students and society.