Anthropic launches an AI chatbot plan for colleges and universities | TechCrunch
Apr 02, 2025 - techcrunch.com
Anthropic has launched a new "Claude for Education" tier, targeting higher education institutions as a competitor to OpenAI's ChatGPT Edu plan. This new offering provides students, faculty, and staff access to the Claude AI chatbot, featuring a "Learning Mode" designed to enhance critical thinking by prompting users with questions and providing templates for academic work. The initiative aims to increase Anthropic's revenue, which currently stands at $115 million monthly, by doubling it by 2025. Claude for Education includes enterprise-grade security and privacy controls and is integrated with platforms like Canvas through a partnership with Instructure. The company has already secured agreements with institutions such as Northeastern University, the London School of Economics and Political Science, and Champlain College.
Anthropic is working closely with Northeastern University as a design partner to develop best practices for AI integration in education. The company is also launching student ambassador and AI "builder" programs to expand its reach. A survey by the Digital Education Council indicates that 54% of university students use generative AI weekly, suggesting a growing market for AI tools in education. However, the impact of AI on education remains uncertain, with mixed research findings on its effectiveness as a learning aid.
Key takeaways:
Anthropic launched Claude for Education, a new AI tier aimed at higher education, to compete with OpenAI's ChatGPT Edu plan.
Claude for Education includes a "Learning Mode" feature to enhance critical thinking by asking questions and providing templates for research and study guides.
Anthropic is partnering with Instructure and Internet2 to integrate Claude into university systems and has agreements with institutions like Northeastern University and the London School of Economics.
The impact of AI on education is still uncertain, with mixed research on its effectiveness as a tutor versus its potential to harm critical thinking skills.
