We are working with three universities to securely connect their ChatGPT Edu accounts to our academic content. Running from October to December 2026, the pilot will enable students and researchers to access our trusted content directly within their AI-assisted research journeys. Participating institutions include Harvard Library, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and University of Oxford.

While researchers are increasingly integrating AI into their research journeys, a recent survey we conducted shows their trust in AI outputs remains low. This pilot aims to ensure high-quality, trusted content remains discoverable and responds to changing habits brought on by AI, such as the rise in zero-click search journeys.  

How the pilot works

The pilot uses a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server developed with our platform provider, Silverchair, which acts as a bridge between an AI assistant, such as ChatGPT Edu, and an organization’s content. In response to a user’s query, the MCP searches and retrieves the most relevant sources from the content, using them to formulate a response for the user.

Throughout the pilot, select researchers and students at the three institutions will be able to use ChatGPT Edu to query peer-reviewed content their institution has purchased or subscribed to. This means those AI outputs are grounded in trusted, cited scholarship with links to content hosted on the Oxford Academic platform.

What the pilot will inform

With participating institutions, we will use both quantitative and qualitative data from the pilot to gain insight into researchers’ behaviours within AI research tools, including:

• Whether researchers are motivated to use an MCP to connect to trusted sources
• How access to trusted sources influences the quality of the LLM’s outputs
• Whether the presence of citations from a trusted publisher affects the process of verifying resources.

Usage data will be monitored and analysed to assess the desirability and sustainability of publisher MCP connectors. This data, combined with qualitative feedback from faculty and students, will be used by each institution to inform the role MCPs will play in their future AI-powered research journeys.  

Richard Ovenden, Bodley’s Librarian and the Helen Hamlyn Director of the University Libraries at the University of Oxford, said: “As people increasingly look to AI technologies to support their academic research, it is important that libraries and publishers work together to make their studies and research as reliable and trustworthy as possible. We are therefore constantly exploring new ways to improve access to the resources we make available to students and researchers. This collaboration will allow us to review how readers use AI technology in their studies and to help develop approaches to ensure that students and researchers can confidently rely on the information they discover.”

John Campbell

Product Strategy Director, Academic

“This pilot is part of a programme of initiatives and partnerships to understand how the dissemination of high-quality research adapts to new technologies and continues to drive impact. By integrating carefully-managed AI tools across our products, we’re putting researchers’ needs at the heart of our work, helping them harness the power of this evolving technology in a secure and reliable way.”

Tanya Laplante

Director of Product Platforms, Academic

 “At a time of rapid technological change, it’s difficult to see through the hype to identify what will actually benefit researchers in their day-to-day work. We’ve undertaken this pilot to lear n what real-world use of publisher MCPs looks like and what benefits it drives. This insight will help OUP and participating institutions determine where we go from here.”

Nearly two-thirds of higher education instructors in the social sciences use instructional videos in the classroom. But as AI-generated videos increase in volume, those instructors and their students require assurance that the videos they learn from are reliable.  

We are responding to this challenge by launching Oxford Explains—a new video-based product developed to provide introductions to complex topics.  

Oxford Explains connects learners directly with leading subject matter experts through concise, accessible videos developed specifically for higher education and research audiences. The content is original, curated, and structured to provide a clear, guided introduction to each topic by exploring the key concepts, debates, and its historical context, supporting deeper understanding and further research. 

The first subject available on Oxford Explains is Politics, which will cover political systems and leadership, regional politics, global challenges, key issues, and much more. Initial collections include the US Presidency, Local and Urban Politics, and Public Policy, with more collections to follow later this year and in 2027. As the resource grows, researchers can gain access to a wider range of perspectives and expertise, with new voices contributing to and shaping the conversation.

Ada Brunstein

Editorial Director for Reference

“The videos offer a trustworthy introduction to each topic, with all content written, recorded, and vetted by leading scholars from across the globe—ensuring they’re not only original but reliable. As online video becomes increasingly automated and AI-generated, OUP’s focus remains on academic rigor, transparency, and trusted expertise. A reliable antidote to misinformation, Oxford Explains offers a foundational orientation to new topics, curated around key concepts, debates, and historical context.” 

Oxford Explains is designed for those with different learning preferences, with accessibility supported through captions and full transcripts, allowing researchers to watch, listen, read, or revisit content in the format that works best for them. As researchers and scholars are increasingly using video for learning, outreach, and communicating research, Oxford Explains meets their changing needs and preferences for engaging with topics while maintaining the trusted, high-quality content they expect. 

James Benefield

Product Manager for Oxford Explains

“Trusted content has never been so important to the academic community—but neither has its accessibility. Oxford Explains, our first video-led product for universities, is available exclusively on Oxford Academic, a platform that’s built for the research journey. Access to knowledge is not just about availability of course, but about ensuring people can engage with content in the way that works best for them. With Oxford Explains and beyond, we continue to invest in enhancements to Oxford Academic that strengthen accessibility so more people can engage with trusted research.” 

Find out more about Oxford Explains here.

Chair of the Global Prize Committee and Professor of International History and Politics at the Geneva Graduate Institute

“This year’s pool of submissions was remarkably strong. A large number of manuscripts made genuine contributions to their respective fields and were worthy of serious consideration. The judging process was accordingly tough and energizing. I, for one, learned an enormous deal about themes as diverse as Caribbean environments, Vietnamese cities, and Latin American rivers.

“The ECR First Book Prize is invaluable. It doesn’t just recognize excellent books, but helps launch them.”