Sept. 18, 2026

Dear URI Community,

The University of Rhode Island has been selected by Amazon Web Services (AWS) to participate in the AWS Kiro for Students initiative, a philanthropic partnership that provides URI students with complimentary access to Kiro for one year.

Kiro is an AI-powered software development platform that uses AI agents to assist with software development tasks. It can support activities such as generating and modifying code, working with existing codebases, developing software projects from natural-language descriptions, and organizing development work through structured specifications and related tools.

Free access for URI students

As part of the pilot university partnership, currently enrolled URI students with a uri.edu email address can obtain free access to Kiro for one year.

Students can obtain access directly from AWS by visiting the Kiro for Students site and completing a brief enrollment verification process. There is no cost to students or to the University for this access.

Additional information and instructions for students will be shared separately.

Complimentary access for full-time faculty

AWS is also providing nine months of complimentary Kiro access to URI full-time faculty who plan to use Kiro for education purposes within the classroom or research settings. This opportunity is intended to help faculty explore the platform and incorporate AI-assisted software development tools into their teaching and/or research.

Faculty who request complimentary access should have a specific plan for using Kiro in support of their teaching and/or research activities. Full-time faculty interested in participating must complete the faculty request form and briefly describe how they anticipate using Kiro.

The deadline for faculty requests is Friday, September 25, 2026.

Faculty access will be provided for nine months and free access will end at the conclusion of the nine-month trial period.

Participation in the program does not require students to use Kiro, and the University does not endorse Kiro over other AI-assisted software development tools. The program provides an opportunity for members of the URI community to explore and evaluate the technology for appropriate educational and research purposes.

Resources and information

URI has developed a number of resources to support the University community in understanding and using AI thoughtfully and responsibly.

Developed through collaboration across the URI community, the URI Academic Affairs AI Task Force Report 2026 highlights progress and offers recommendations for the thoughtful and responsible use of artificial intelligence across teaching, research, and University operations. Learn more at the AI at URI site.

Information Technology Services provides resources to ensure AI is used securely, ethically, and responsibly to reflect the University’s values around transparency, fairness, and accountability. Visit the Responsible Use of AI at URI site to learn more about AI standards and resources.

For more information about Kiro, visit the Kiro for Students site, or visit URI Information Technology Services’ dedicated Kiro page.