Anthropic unveils an AI chatbot plan for educational institutions.

Anthropic has recently introduced a new category called Claude for Education in response to OpenAI's ChatGPT Edu initiative. This new tier targets higher education, providing students, faculty, and staff access to the AI chatbot, Claude, with enhanced capabilities.

One of the standout features of Claude for Education is the "Learning Mode," an option within Claude Projects aimed at promoting the development of critical thinking in students rather than just providing answers. When Learning Mode is activated, Claude will ask questions to check for understanding, emphasize the basic principles behind specific problems, and offer helpful templates for research papers, outlines, and study guides.

With the implementation of this category, Anthropic aims to increase its revenue, which currently stands at around $115 million per month. The company seeks to double this figure by 2025 while directly competing with OpenAI in the educational space. Historically, Anthropic has matched OpenAI's offerings, and this launch is no exception. The company has indicated that Claude for Education will feature its standard chat interface and "enterprise-level" security and privacy controls.

Additionally, it has noted that university administrators will be able to use Claude to analyze enrollment trends and automate responses to frequently asked emails. Students, in turn, will be able to benefit from Claude for Education in their studies, such as solving calculus problems with step-by-step guidance from the chatbot.

To facilitate the integration of Claude into university systems, Anthropic is partnering with Instructure, the creator of the educational platform Canvas. It is also collaborating with Internet2, a nonprofit organization that provides cloud solutions for educational institutions. Currently, Anthropic has already established "full-campus agreements" with Northeastern University, the London School of Economics and Political Science, and Champlain College, allowing all students to access Claude for Education. Northeastern is acting as a design partner, working alongside its students, faculty, and staff to develop best practices for AI integration, AI-powered educational tools, and frameworks.

Anthropic also hopes to sign more contracts as part of its student ambassador and AI "builders" programs to capitalize on the growing trend of students using artificial intelligence in their studies. According to a 2024 survey by the Digital Education Council, 54% of college students use generative artificial intelligence on a weekly basis. The agreements for Claude for Education could help Anthropic familiarize more young people with its tools while adequately funded universities cover the costs. The impact that AI might have on education remains uncertain, as does whether it is truly a desirable addition to the classroom. Research is varied; some studies suggest that AI can serve as a helpful tutor, while others warn of potential negative effects on critical thinking skills.