Boise partners with OpenAI to upgrade ChatGPT for educators

OpenAI is partnering with the Boise School District to give educators upgraded access to AI chatbot ChatGPT.

The district plans to roll out “ChatGPT Edu” for its teachers in the spring semester. Boise joins more than 100 districts, charters and other K-12 organizations nationwide that have partnered with the company, according to OpenAI.

The agreement gives Boise teachers and administrators upgraded access to ChatGPT while tightening data privacy protections. In an August interview with Idaho EdNews, Boise Chief Technology Officer Ryan Gravette called the arrangement “one of the strongest data privacy agreements” he has seen from a partner.

Earlier this year, lawmakers had concerns about data privacy when they passed Senate Bill 1227, which instructs the Idaho Department of Education to develop a statewide framework for integrating generative AI into classrooms. Some teachers already use ChatGPT, which harvests data from user interactions if they use the free version.

Gravette — who previously worked at the Idaho Digital Learning Alliance, where he helped set up the same partnership — said he approached OpenAI to bring Boise into the program. He said teachers can use AI to reduce the time they spend doing clerical duties so they can focus on teaching students.