University of Pittsburgh partners with Anthropic and AWS to launch an AI-enabled campus

Pitt partners with Anthropic and Amazon Web Services to launch an AI-enabled campus of the future.

The University of Pittsburgh has announced a collaboration with Anthropic and Amazon Web Services (AWS) to create an AI-enabled Campus of the Future.

The initiative, which was shared in LinkedIn posts by AWS executives Mike Tarrant and Kim Majerus, marks Pitt as the first university to deploy Claude for Education institution-wide, integrated with AWS cloud infrastructure.

Expanding AI use across research and operations

The partnership gives Pitt access to Anthropic’s Claude models through Amazon Bedrock, enabling custom AI applications that support teaching, learning, and administration. The university’s in-house PittGPT will use foundational models such as Claude Opus 4.1 and Sonnet 4.5 to power innovation in areas including health sciences and sports analytics.

AWS describes the move as part of Pitt’s “vision-driven strategy” for embedding responsible AI use across all campuses. According to the press release, the collaboration “amplifies how the University functions, how we support faculty and how we ensure the best possible student experience in the classroom and beyond,” says Joan Gabel, Chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh.

Tarrant, Head of Global EdTech and Higher Ed at AWS, wrote on LinkedIn: “It’s been inspiring to work alongside the University of Pittsburgh, Anthropic, and Amazon Web Services (AWS) team as this partnership came together. The University of Pittsburgh developed a vision for AI that goes beyond technology adoption—it’s about transforming how the institution operates and serves the greater Pittsburgh community.”

He added: “As the first university to deploy Claude for Education institution-wide with Amazon Web Services (AWS), Pitt demonstrates what strategic transformation looks like.”

Mark D. Henderson, Vice Chancellor and Chief Information Officer at Pitt, says: “Claude for Education offers the possibility of a unified, safe AI space. These tools can empower users to enhance student engagement, accelerate research and transform teaching and learning. Claude’s customizable AI agents could assist advisors with student planning, aid researchers in streamlining presentations and provide administrators with real-time visibility into operations.”

Building an ethical and scalable AI framework

The initiative includes an AI Scholar-Teacher Alliance to promote responsible AI integration and literacy among faculty, staff, and students. The university will also launch workforce readiness programs with local partners and industry training through Anthropic and AWS.

Kim Majerus, Vice President of Global Education, U.S. State and Local Government at AWS, comments: “The University of Pittsburgh has been forward-thinking in its approach to AI and leveraging AWS technology across its campus from health sciences to sports. This collaboration demonstrates how cloud infrastructure and advanced AI models can work together seamlessly to create transformative educational experiences. We’re proud to help Pitt lead the way in showing what’s possible when universities embrace AI thoughtfully and strategically.”

Johanna Bowman, Education Partnerships Lead at Anthropic, adds: “The University of Pittsburgh is pioneering how institutions can responsibly integrate AI in higher education and its approach aligns perfectly with our commitment to develop AI that is helpful, honest and harmless. Working alongside AWS, we’re excited to support the University’s vision through Claude for Education, our AI Fluency curriculum, and ongoing collaboration with their AI Scholar-Teacher Alliance.”

Students, faculty, and staff will access Claude for Education this fall through existing platforms such as Canvas. Pitt’s deployment, backed by Anthropic and AWS, sets a national precedent for large-scale, ethical AI implementation in higher education.