Clemson University is currently considering a potential $3 million deal with OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, according to documents filed with South Carolina’s fiscal oversight agency.

University spokesperson Joe Galbraith said in an interview that the University currently does not have a finalized agreement to discuss the deal, but that the administration will continue to look at options to “best help our students, faculty and staff.”

Nicholas Vazsonyi, dean of Clemson’s College of Arts and Humanities, told The Tiger that he has “no details” on the potential deal other than that a purchase is planned.

The University of South Carolina entered into a $1.5 million contract with the company in June. As of October, over 14,000 people on the Columbia campus have signed up for access to free artificial intelligence technology.

The premium version of ChatGPT typically costs $20 per month; however, with this deal, students can access it for free. Premium ChatGPT enables users to ask more questions per hour and upload additional data for analysis.

University of South Carolina spokesperson Jeff Stensland said that the contract includes an agreement prohibiting the AI company from collecting the University’s data for training purposes, thereby protecting intellectual property rights on behalf of the users, according to the South Carolina Daily Gazette.

Students and faculty at South Carolina have already found various ways to incorporate AI into their teaching and learning efforts.

Clemson aims to provide a customized AI experience that may supersede what is currently available at other institutions. According to Galbraith, this is why the cost of implementation at Clemson is twice that of South Carolina.

Clemson Libraries provides resources for students on how to use and cite AI in popular formats such as APA, MLA and Chicago.

Clemson recognizes that ChatGPT is a frontrunner in the field of AI, as it offers a large variety of services and is most widely used among college students. OpenAI reported on Feb. 20 that over a third of college-aged young adults in the United States use ChatGPT in their coursework.

After interviewing students across different majors, The Tiger received generally positive opinions on the topic.

“ChatGPT has recently been seen in a negative light due to cheating and unfair advantages in exams, but I fully believe that a program that acts as a study tool, note taker, and idea generator has the ability to help students perform at a higher level and succeed in their future endeavors,” Trey Dowling, a junior financial management major, told The Tiger.

Isaac Masone, a junior marketing major, said that having access to premium ChatGPT would enhance his academic experience.

“It gives me clear, concise explanations of complex topics,” Masone told The Tiger. “It helps me to learn much more efficiently and gain clarity on my coursework.”

Reagan O’Shea, a sophomore graphic communications major and artificial intelligence minor, believes AI is shaping the futures of both students and the University as a whole.

“It was just the other day in my Web Design class where I was able to send less than 5 prompts to ChatGPT and code an entire website front to back,” she told The Tiger in an interview, noting that she believes Clemson would be missing out on a great opportunity for overall advancement if it were not to capitalize on this possible deal with OpenAI.

“With this opportunity presented to us, Clemson would be given the chance to advance OpenAI and its role in college education across America,” O’Shea continued. 

To her, the potential deal would put Clemson at the forefront of AI integration in higher education. She believes this would ultimately enable the University to participate in OpenAI’s impact on college students’ schooling.

“Once students understand how to properly use AI in a school setting, the benefits of this technology are endless,” O’Shea concluded.

Clemson offers the Artificial Research Institute for Science and Engineering to support the University’s leadership in multiple STEM fields, including manufacturing, materials science and cyberinfrastructure.

AI plays a large role in the modern economy and national interests. The AIRISE program at Clemson enables students and faculty to access federal research funding and promotes the accessibility of AI for students.

Clemson also opened the Center for Human-AI Interaction, Collaboration, and Teaming in 2024, which is housed within the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences.

These centers and programs share a goal of fostering collaboration between humans and AI to create a more connected future.

See an opinion from a staff member linked here.