The University of Michigan has forged a collaboration with OpenAI that will deliver enhanced artificial intelligence resources, research funding, and computational capabilities to the campus.
This alliance will also encompass collaborative research initiatives between the university and OpenAI, concentrating on AI uses that significantly benefit society.
The pact with OpenAI — a company focused on artificial intelligence research and implementation and the developer of ChatGPT — is a component of NextGenAI, a larger $50 million initiative by OpenAI to promote research and education in collaboration with academic institutions.
This partnership aims to further strengthen the university’s capability to perform pioneering artificial intelligence research, according to university representatives.
“Partnering with OpenAI offers a unique chance to work alongside researchers leading the creation of some of the most significant AI innovations today and to access state-of-the-art models and tools,” stated Michael Wellman, who is a professor of computer science and engineering at the College of Engineering and serves as the main investigator for the partnership.
As part of the agreement, OpenAI will supply application programming interface — commonly referred to as API — credits, enabling U-M researchers to access the company’s sophisticated AI models. These credits, which operate similarly to prepaid access for OpenAI’s AI tools, will allow faculty and students to investigate AI applications across various disciplines.
The collaboration will also provide additional resources for high-performance computing, allowing the university to acquire computing power from a provider of its choice. Moreover, OpenAI will allocate research grants to the university, which will be distributed to faculty to further AI-related academic pursuits.
“Establishing a relationship of this magnitude enables us to highlight the extensive AI-relevant research at the University of Michigan, encompassing core technologies, significant applications, and societal consequences,” remarked Wellman, who also holds the title of Lynn A. Conway Collegiate Professor of Computer Science and Engineering. “It complements other strategic alliances that U-M is forming with industry and government in relation to AI and supports our initiative to cultivate a comprehensive AI research community on campus.”
NextGenAI, a consortium comprising 10 prominent universities and OpenAI, aims to “speed up research breakthroughs” and “empower students, educators, and researchers to address challenging problems and extend the limits of knowledge,” as stated in an OpenAI press release.
In addition to U-M and OpenAI, the founding partners of NextGenAI include Duke University, the Boston Public Library, Howard University, MIT, Sciences Po in France, Texas A&M University, University of Georgia, University of Mississippi, and University of Oxford in England.
This partnership is in line with U-M’s broader strategy to augment its AI research presence. The university’s strategic vision — Vision 2034 — emphasizes a commitment to “broaden the development and application of artificial intelligence and data science” over the forthcoming decade.
“The University of Michigan is excited to be a vital partner in OpenAI’s NextGenAI consortium, collaborating with leading institutions to drive transformative, ethically-oriented advancements in research, scholarship, and education,” stated President Santa J. Ono. “This initiative signifies the onset of what we foresee as a long-lasting and meaningful partnership between the university and OpenAI, shaping the future of AI for the greater good.”
Beyond enhancing access to AI models and computing capabilities, the partnership establishes a framework for collaborative research projects between OpenAI and the university.
“The University of Michigan is at the forefront of AI research in higher education, and this alliance with OpenAI presents an exhilarating opportunity to augment our capabilities,” noted Arthur Lupia, interim vice president for research and innovation. “With access to OpenAI’s advanced models and additional funding to secure computing resources, our researchers will be more adept at pushing the boundaries of what AI can accomplish.”