AI Innovation Challenge expands to student researchers and coursework
Starting today, Monday, March 25, faculty, staff and – now – student researchers at Arizona State University (ASU) are eligible to submit proposals to use ChatGPT Enterprise across academic, research and work environments.
The launch of round two of submissions for the AI Innovation Challenge at ASU expands the use of ChatGPT Enterprise to student researchers while simultaneously honing transformation to three key areas of impact access the university: teaching and learning, use-inspired research and the future of work.
"Through the AI Innovation Challenge, we are championing a principled approach to innovation by welcoming proposals from every corner of the enterprise centering impact and assessment," remarked Elizabeth Reilley, executive director of AI Acceleration. "This initiative not only broadens the horizon for interdisciplinary collaboration but also offers enhanced security through the use of ChatGPT Enterprise."
Round two of the AI Innovation Challenge invites proposals that outline a clear vision for integrating ChatGPT Enterprise into one of the three priority areas:
- Support teaching and learning
This category seeks proposals that enhance the educational experience within a class setting with up to 50 students or learners. We seek initiatives that not only facilitate teaching but also actively involve students/learners in their learning journey, and this category may include proposals in which students/learners are given access to OpenAI Technology. The goal is to support educators in delivering high-quality education and to ensure students/learners are engaged, motivated, and successfully acquiring the knowledge and skills required for their academic and professional growth.
- Advance use-inspired research
Under this category, we invite student or learner researchers, faculty, and staff engaged in use-inspired research to submit their proposals. We are particularly interested in projects that, while not centered on human subjects or human subjects data at the individual level, demonstrate a clear path to making meaningful contributions to communities, the environment, industries, and beyond. Proposals should detail the impact envisioned, both in the immediate future and in the long term. Our goal is to support research that not only bridges the divide between theory and practice but also drives principled innovation, resulting in the development and application of knowledge.
- Enhance the future of work
For this category, our goal is to support initiatives that enhance employee (faculty and staff) well-being, amplify productivity, reduce the burden of mundane tasks, and deliver high-quality outcomes. The emphasis should be on creative and practical approaches that can be adopted without the integration of other tools (e.g. may not use APIs, plugins, actions, etc.). Proposals should detail how the initiative will contribute to a more positive, productive, and supportive work environment, including potential impacts on employee and customer satisfaction, engagement, and overall company culture.
The call for proposals for round two of the AI Innovation Challenges opens Monday, March 25; interested faculty, staff and student researchers are encouraged to submit proposals by April 15.
A list of resources is available for interested ASU faculty, staff and students:
AI Innovation Challenge sparks creativity and impact
Round two follows on the heels of a successful launch of the AI Innovation Challenge back in February 2024. Round one–which launched on Feb. 1–received over 175 proposals, with 105 accepted projects granting over 800 ChatGPT Enterprise licenses to the ASU community. Notably, 14 of the university’s 17 colleges and schools are represented in this work.
“We had an incredible response from ASU faculty and staff in the first round,” Reilley continued. “While we are still uncovering the impact from the projects currently underway, we want to keep the momentum going by expanding our reach to student researchers and classroom use.”
Promising developments for the use of ChatGPT Enterprise are already being realized. For example, a graduate course from the university’s English department is using the AI tool to support scholarly writing assignments, noting how the tool offers real-time feedback and idea generators to improve writing.
The AI Innovation Challenge is made possible through a new collaboration between ASU and OpenAI, the AI research and deployment company behind ChatGPT. The first-of-its-kind collaboration was announced on Jan. 18, capturing the attention of audiences worldwide.
For more information on ASU’s approach to AI, visit ai.asu.edu.