This study examines the educational affordances and challenges of ChatGPT, an AI-generated content model released to the public on November 30, 2022. The research is one of the first systematic reviews using peer-reviewed studies to provide an early examination of the field. Using PRISMA principles, 44 articles were selected for review, and grounded coding was employed to reveal trends in the data. The findings indicate that educators can use ChatGPT for teaching support, task automation, and professional development. Students can benefit from 24/7 support, explanations of difficult concepts, conversational partners, personalized feedback, writing support, self-assessment, engagement facilitation, and self-determination. However, the data also highlight limitations and misuses of ChatGPT, including inaccuracies, hallucinations, potential bias, plagiarism, cheating, privacy issues, and the spread of false information. The study aims to serve as a foundation for researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and funders to better understand the emerging state of ChatGPT in education.This study examines the educational affordances and challenges of ChatGPT, an AI-generated content model released to the public on November 30, 2022. The research is one of the first systematic reviews using peer-reviewed studies to provide an early examination of the field. Using PRISMA principles, 44 articles were selected for review, and grounded coding was employed to reveal trends in the data. The findings indicate that educators can use ChatGPT for teaching support, task automation, and professional development. Students can benefit from 24/7 support, explanations of difficult concepts, conversational partners, personalized feedback, writing support, self-assessment, engagement facilitation, and self-determination. However, the data also highlight limitations and misuses of ChatGPT, including inaccuracies, hallucinations, potential bias, plagiarism, cheating, privacy issues, and the spread of false information. The study aims to serve as a foundation for researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and funders to better understand the emerging state of ChatGPT in education.