19 September 2024
OpenAI has taken a significant step forward in its education efforts by appointing Leah Belsky, the former Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) of Coursera, as its first General Manager of Education, as reported by Bloomberg. Belsky, who was instrumental in Coursera’s global growth and spearheaded initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic, will now focus on advancing OpenAI’s engagement with educational institutions.
In her new role, Belsky will drive the adoption of OpenAI’s AI products, such as ChatGPT, in schools, colleges, and continuing education programs. Her mission includes increasing engagement with teachers and students and collaborating with academic leaders to integrate AI solutions across various educational levels.
OpenAI’s interest in the education sector is clear. Belsky’s appointment reinforces the company’s ambition to make AI tools more accessible to educational institutions worldwide. The company already partners with organisations such as Arizona State University, where ChatGPT is being utilised from research to teaching.
To support this, OpenAI recently launched a tailored version of its flagship tool, ChatGPT Edu, specifically designed for educational purposes. This version includes custom controls and special pricing to cater to the unique needs of schools, universities, and other learning institutions.
Brad Lightcap, OpenAI’s Chief Operating Officer, expressed his excitement for Belsky’s arrival, stating, “Leah will accelerate our work with leading academic institutions to ensure that people working across all disciplines and industries have the training they need to maximise the benefits of AI.”
During her tenure at Coursera, Belsky played a pivotal role in increasing the platform’s reach. Under her leadership, Coursera grew exponentially, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the platform’s freemium model provided critical educational access to millions of users.
Belsky’s hiring comes at a crucial time for OpenAI, which has recently made strides with the launch of its new AI model, “Strawberry.” The model boasts enhanced reasoning and problem-solving capabilities, promising significant advancements in educational applications.
To further solidify its role in the academic sector, OpenAI will host a meeting in October with presidents and provosts from leading universities. The focus of the event will be on the effective and responsible use of AI in higher education, including its impact on teaching and research.
