ChatGPT Lab calls for students to share campus use cases and shape new features
Photo credit: OpenAI
OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has launched applications for the next round of its ChatGPT Lab for Students in the United States and Canada. The initiative brings small groups of undergraduates into weekly discussions where they exchange ways of using ChatGPT for study, career, and everyday tasks.
The program, which runs about the length of a semester, is designed to give students exposure to peer learning and direct input into how OpenAI develops its tools. In turn, OpenAI uses the feedback to refine ChatGPT features for a global student audience.
The Lab is divided into two parts. The onboarding period runs from October 15 to November 14, with two hours per week dedicated to workshops. During this time, students present how they and their peers use ChatGPT, and the group consolidates findings in a capstone session.
From November through December, students can continue in an “exploration period,” working with OpenAI on new product ideas and hosting campus-based sessions. The company says participants will receive access to a ChatGPT Plus subscription, a private Slack workspace, and resources to run their own Labs.
The program is aimed at undergraduates who already use ChatGPT regularly and are exploring new use cases in education and early career contexts. It is not intended for those focusing on coding or APIs.
OpenAI states that the Lab “centers on everyday use of ChatGPT for learning and creating.” The company adds that it is expanding internationally, with the first Lab outside North America already running in India.
Applications close on September 21, 2025, at 11:59 pm PT. OpenAI notes that students who participate “will leave the program with a broader understanding of how to use AI in their own lives, new relationships with a special group of passionate peers, and insights into how OpenAI builds products and shapes its storytelling.”
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