A student with a laptop in the gazebo on Boatwright Lake

SpiderAI 2.0 - FREE Access to Paid GenAI Tools

October 1, 2025

It’s a new school year, and the University of Richmond’s GenAI tool, SpiderAI, has had a significant upgrade. In addition to accessing the latest models from ChatGPT, the system offers assistants like Spider Study, which emulates ChatGPT’s Study Mode.  

SpiderAI is now available to staff. SpiderAI makes available models that would otherwise require subscription. And SpiderAI comes with tools that can help you learn to improve your prompts, such as Instructional Mode and Prompt Clarification.  

It is necessary to be on the campus network or VPN to reach SpiderAI. And SpiderAI’s applications have not yet been cleared for use with University data, though Information Services is researching this possibility. At this time, University data may only be used with two approved applications, Box AI and Zoom AI Companion. 

SpiderAI 2.0 has a new look that’s easier to use. It’s been streamlined for everyday users, but it is also possible for anyone with technical backgrounds to explore API capabilities and to integrate AI into their own applications and workflows.  

SpiderAI now also has the ability to create custom “Assistants.” Assistants are customizations to applications. For example, Spider Study recreates the new Study Mode in ChatGPT. Anyone can create assistants – no coding experience is necessary. If you are interested in replicating Notebook LM’s ability to analyze a collection of files, you can create an assistant, upload files, and then use the assistant to analyze your information. Assistants can optionally be shared with all users or only with specific people you select.  

More updates are coming, as application creators Professor Saif Mehkari, the Faculty Hub’s Andrew Bell, and Information Service’s Bobby Paxton will be augmented by the new CIO AI Strategy Team (CAST) from Information Services. CAST has been created to help everyone at the University of Richmond get the most from generative artificial intelligence.  

SpiderAI is a great way to learn and use generative AI at the University of Richmond. Log in today and explore the possibilities that GenAI makes possible.