Northeastern University partnered with the company behind Claude to test how AI can be incorporated into the college curriculum.

The big picture: Northeastern is among three colleges globally that will test Anthropic's new learning tool under Claude for Higher Education, which aims to help teach users instead of offering shortcuts to an answer.

Driving the news: All Northeastern students, faculty and staff will get access to the premier version of Claude, including the new "learning mode" that's central to Claude for Education.

• Instead of answering a prompt, Claude's "learning mode" asks users how they would answer a question and what proof they have to back it up.
• Northeastern will host workshops next week for students, faculty and staff who want to learn to use AI in their fields of study.

Anthropic also announced partnerships with the London School of Economics and Champlain College, VentureBeat reported.

By the numbers: Northeastern will give premier Claude access to nearly 49,000 students across its 13 campuses.

• Another 3,500 faculty and 4,900 staff members will also have access.

What they're saying: "Part of our mission as a university is to really rethink how it is that we do both teaching and learning in the presence of AI," Javed Aslam, chief of AI at Northeastern, tells Axios. "It's really on both those fronts."

Yes, but: That also means another 50,000 people may be using energy to generate text- or image-based responses, though it's still hard to tell exactly how much energy a session with an AI model typically uses.

Keep reading: AI shift on college campuses

Steph and Deehan here. We wanted to know what made our Boston-area James Beard finalists stand out.

• So we stopped by before these spots started getting lines out the door.

First up is Merai, the small Thai-inspired bar in Brookline Village that's in the running for best new bar.

• Steph had dinner and drinks at the bar.

The only problem with Merai is that it calls itself an "elevated dive bar" — three words that don't go together.

Yes, but: Merai is everything an "elevated" bar should be.

• Dangerously smooth and smoky drinks (whisky drinkers would enjoy the Mr. Wonka).
• Comfort foods with a pop of unexpected flavor, from the mix of coconut milk and mushroom in the curry pot pie ($15) to the Thai-iced-tea-flavored tiramisu ($10).
• I heard their flan was even better, but it's not on the menu right now.

The verdict: Where so many local bars and restaurants slap on Thai peanut dressing or add tacos and dumplings to diversify their menu, Merai's homage to Thai cuisine actually does the country's rich culinary culture justice.

Now onto Urban Hearth, whose owner and chief Erin Miller is a finalist for best chef in the Northeast region.

• Deehan snagged a reservation Thursday night.

Miller is hard to miss in the 24-seat Mass. Ave. restaurant as she mans the adorable open kitchen, manages staff and interacts with diners.

What he ate: Saffron ricotta ravioli ($26) a shared-plate-sized portion of four cheese dumplings with grilled asparagus, arugula pistou and crispy capers.

• Seared bluefin tuna crudo ($27) another shared plate with four slices of fish, foamy citron and popped sorghum.
• Boston brown bread ($8) a starter with fermented chili butter, Maine sea salt and some of the tastiest fresh honey you'll have this year.

The verdict: The food and dining experience are next-level, but know what you're getting into with the portion sizes and prices.

• The bread might have been the first time I actually enjoyed eating Boston brown bread. I couldn't even see the aluminum can indentations.

Tell a fellow foodie

🪧 Tens of thousands of people marched from Boston Common to City Hall Plaza as part of the "Hands Off" protests. (WBUR)

"If you're confused as to why we're doing this now, then, you've been confused about us the whole time."

🗳️ Mayor Michelle Wu launched her reelection campaign Saturday from — where else? — the Cyclorama. (GBH News)

The Trump administration has revoked the visas of three Harvard students and two recent graduates, as well as the visas of five UMass Amherst students. (Globe)

🥬 Trader Joe's is coming to West Roxbury, replacing a shuttered Walgreens at 1999 Centre St. (UHub)

Monday, 4/7

🎨 The Whitney Hotel in Boston hosts a sip-and-paint event, 6-8pm.

• Price: $60.54.

Tuesday, 4/8

🍹 Watch Boston-area bartenders will compete in the Queer Food Fest's "Cocktail Wars," starting at Blend in Dorchester, 8-11pm.

Wednesday, 4/9

🎤 The Yardbirds play City Winery.

• Price: $40+.

Thursday, 4/10

🎞️ Trident Booksellers & Cafe screens the "Dead Poets Society," 7-9pm.

Friday, 4/11

📚 Join the Book Clurb Boston (yes, clurb) at its first meetup in the Boston Public Garden, 5pm.

Saturday, 4/12

🛍️ Time Out Market hosts an artist market, 12-5pm.

• While you're there, catch a White Lotus-themed drag show with Big Atlas and other local queens.

🎶 Celebrate Record Store Day with Vinyl Index and Bow Market (including RSD record releases), 12pm-1am.

• RSVPs encouraged.

Sunday, 4/13

🎸 Legendary rockers Heart plays Agganis Arena.

📚 The Medford Brewing Company hosts a Books and Brews Bookfair, 2-5pm.

We're so thankful to our members for their support of our work through their contribution to our newsroom.

If you join as an Axios Boston member, you'll get insider notes from the team, birthday shoutouts in the newsletter and other perks.

• Plus, you'll be part of our growth and ensure that our news is always free and accessible to the community.

We're grateful for your trust and continued readership.

UConn women's basketball team clinched the national title in the NCAA's Final Four, including Milton native Caroline Ducharme.

• There's always a Boston-area connection.

Townie got down and dirty in a recent excursion. Any idea where she went?

Reply to this email if you know the answer. Whoever answers first gets a Townie tote.