Instructure and OpenAI Announce Global Partnership to Embed AI Learning Experiences within Canvas

Rhea-AI Summary

Instructure (NYSE:INST) and OpenAI have announced a groundbreaking global partnership to integrate OpenAI's AI technology directly into the Canvas Learning Management System. The collaboration introduces LLM-Enabled Assignment, a new tool allowing educators to create custom GPT-like experiences within Canvas.

The integration focuses on four key areas: educator-guided AI alignment with learning outcomes, student-teacher interaction visibility, evidence-based learning integration with Gradebook, and automation of routine tasks. The partnership is part of Instructure's broader IgniteAI initiative, which aims to build a future-ready, open ecosystem with AI support across their network of over 1,100 edtech partners.

Positive

• None.

Negative

• Implementation and training costs for institutions to effectively utilize new AI tools
• Potential dependency on OpenAI's technology and services
• Learning curve for educators to effectively implement AI-powered assignments

Insights

EdTech Analyst

Instructure's OpenAI partnership creates strategic advantage in competitive edtech market, embedding AI directly into Canvas with teacher-controlled implementation.

This strategic partnership between Instructure and OpenAI represents a significant competitive advancement for INST in the education technology sector. By embedding OpenAI's technology directly into Canvas, Instructure is positioning itself ahead of competitors in the integration of AI within learning management systems.

The introduction of LLM-Enabled Assignments enables a differentiated product offering where educators can create custom AI experiences within Canvas while maintaining control over the learning process. This addresses one of education's primary concerns about AI: maintaining pedagogical integrity while leveraging technological advancement.

From a market perspective, this partnership aligns with Instructure's broader IgniteAI strategy, establishing what appears to be an open ecosystem approach that could potentially create network effects across their 1,100+ edtech partners. The emphasis on privacy (student information not shared with OpenAI) and educational integrity demonstrates awareness of institutional concerns that have previously slowed AI adoption in education.

The strategic value lies in how this integration transforms Canvas from a content delivery and assessment platform into an interactive learning environment with AI capabilities that can capture evidence of learning processes, not just outcomes. This shifts Instructure's value proposition and potentially creates stronger platform lock-in, as educational institutions would face higher switching costs once they've designed curricula around these AI-enhanced capabilities.

This partnership positions Instructure to potentially increase market share in the competitive LMS space by offering capabilities that address both administrative efficiency (automating routine tasks) and enhanced learning experiences (personalized learning journeys) – the two primary value drivers for educational technology purchases.

First-of-its-kind integration transforms education by embedding OpenAI's technology directly within the Canvas learning environment, empowering educators and amplifying student potential

SALT LAKE CITY and SAN FRANCISCO, July 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Instructure, the world's leading edtech ecosystem and maker of Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) and OpenAI, the artificial intelligence research organization, today announced a global partnership that introduces a new integration that enables teachers to create Large Language Model (LLM) workflows directly in the LMS.

This groundbreaking collaboration represents a transformative step forward in education technology and will begin with, but is not limited to, an effort between Instructure and OpenAI to enhance the Canvas experience by embedding OpenAI's next-generation AI technology into the platform.

IgniteAI announced earlier today, establishes Instructure's future-ready, open ecosystem with agentic support as the AI landscape continues to evolve. This partnership with OpenAI exemplifies this bold vision for AI in education. Instructure's strategic approach to AI emphasizes the enhancement of connections within an educational ecosystem comprising over 1,100 edtech partners and leading LLM providers.

"We're committed to delivering next-generation LMS technologies designed with an open ecosystem that empowers educators and learners to adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing world," said Steve Daly, CEO of Instructure. "This collaboration with OpenAI showcases our ambitious vision: creating a future-ready ecosystem that fosters meaningful learning and achievement at every stage of education. This is a significant step forward for the education community as we continuously amplify the learning experience and improve student outcomes."

This initial Canvas-native functionality brings OpenAI's technology into the classroom with educational integrity and privacy at the core of the experience:

• Educator-guided, outcome-aligned AI – This integration enables educators to design learning activities that fully leverage the capabilities of OpenAI's technology, fostering deeper engagement and more enriching educational outcomes. Educators maintain complete control over the interactions, ensuring they align with learning objectives.
• Student agency meets teacher visibility – Through the integration, learners benefit from dynamic and personalized educational conversations within the Canvas LMS. Educators also gain insight into students' assignment interactions with AI in Canvas. The learner information remains private to the Canvas user and is not shared with OpenAI.
• Evidence-based learning, seamlessly integrated – As students interact with AI in Canvas, key learning evidence is captured and returned to the Gradebook — bridging AI-driven exploration with standards-aligned assessment.
• Enhancing high-value educational experiences – By automating routine and low-value tasks, this integration creates space for educators and students to focus on more meaningful educational activities. Students experience personalized, adaptable learning journeys while educators gain valuable insights from learning artifacts directly captured within Canvas, reinforcing their ability to nurture higher-order skills.

"Now is the time to ensure AI benefits students, educators, and institutions, and partnerships like this are critical to making that happen," said Leah Belsky, general manager and VP of education at OpenAI. "With Instructure's global reach with OpenAI's advanced AI models, we'll give educators a tool to deliver richer, more personalized, and more connected learning experiences for students, and also help them reclaim time for the human side of teaching."

Leading education toward the future

The global announcement by Instructure and OpenAI signals a strategic shift towards edtech and AI companies working side by side to shape the future of education and respond to the rapid pace of technological change, focusing on where education is headed. AI benefits learners most when their engagement reflects strong practices; industry partnerships can further strengthen this.

"We are harnessing powerful technology not simply because it's innovative but because it fundamentally changes, and accelerates, the learning experience," said Daly. "Our partnership with OpenAI clearly illustrates our commitment to delivering tools that allow educators and learners to thrive amid constant change."

LLM-enabled assignment

The first tool Instructure is launching is a new type of assignment called the LLM-Enabled Assignment, designed to let educators create a custom GPT-like experience within Canvas. Teachers can define how AI interacts with students, set specific learning goals and objectives and determine what evidence of learning it should track. They can do this using natural language prompts or by leveraging an assistant within the assignment creation flow to guide them through the process.

"This new type of assignment allows students to have rich, casual and interactive conversations in a ChatGPT-like environment they already know they love,"  said Shiren Vijiasingam, chief product officer at Instructure. "In that process, they create visible learning evidence that teachers can confidently use, as it's mapped to the learning objectives, rubrics and skills defined by the teacher."

Through this tool, when students submit their assignments, teachers gain a high-level view of overall progress, key learning indicators and potential gaps, each supported by clear evidence. They can then dive into specific indicators to see exactly where and how a student demonstrated the required understanding in the conversation.

"What's powerful about this tool is that it enables educators to assess the student's learning process — not just the final outcome," said Vijiasingam. "This is only the first in a set of tools we will develop with OpenAI over the coming quarters. This feature provides a meaningful way to teach students how to use these tools responsibly and effectively, all within a high-quality pedagogical framework that encourages critical thinking and supports higher-order skills."

About Instructure
Instructure is shaping the future of learning by delivering a future-ready ecosystem that helps learners thrive in tomorrow's landscape. Our vision is to drive a future where education technology seamlessly amplifies human potential, empowering people to excel in a perpetually changing world. The Instructure ecosystem supports educators, institutions and learners across K-12, higher education and the workforce — enhancing experiences at every age, every stage and every pivotal transition. Discover more at Instructure.com.

About OpenAI
OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company with a mission to ensure that artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity.

CONTACT
Brian Watkins
Corporate Communications
Instructure
(801) 658-7525

Brianna Bower
Communications
OpenAI
(415) 987-2077

 

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SOURCE Instructure

FAQ

What is the new partnership between Instructure (NYSE:INST) and OpenAI?

Instructure and OpenAI have partnered to integrate OpenAI's AI technology directly into the Canvas Learning Management System, enabling educators to create LLM workflows and custom GPT-like experiences within the platform.

How will the OpenAI integration affect Canvas LMS users?

The integration will enable personalized learning experiences, automated routine tasks, and provide educators with insights into student interactions while maintaining privacy. Learning evidence will be captured and returned to the Gradebook.

What is Instructure's LLM-Enabled Assignment feature?

It's a new tool that allows educators to create custom GPT-like experiences within Canvas, set specific learning goals, and track learning evidence through AI-powered conversations with students.

How does Instructure ensure privacy in its OpenAI integration?

Learner information remains private to the Canvas user and is not shared with OpenAI. Educators maintain complete control over AI interactions within the platform.

What is Instructure's IgniteAI initiative?

IgniteAI is Instructure's strategy to build a future-ready, open ecosystem with AI support, connecting over 1,100 edtech partners and leading LLM providers.