The University of Portland launches an Ethical AI Initiative, featuring courses like Dr. Natalie Nelson-Marsh’s ‘Future of Work’ that encourage ethical scrutiny of AI’s role in the workforce. Starting in 2025-26, it aims to integrate AI literacy across disciplines, fostering comprehensive understanding among students. The initiative embodies the university’s mission to develop well-rounded individuals prepared for an AI-shaped world.
This fall, Dr. Natalie Nelson-Marsh’s ‘Future of Work’ course at the University of Portland will spotlight artificial intelligence, urging students to critically engage with its ethical ramifications. Rather than merely using AI tools for their assignments, students will assess how AI is reshaping the future workplace and their roles within it. This initiative is part of the University of Portland’s broader Ethical AI Initiative, which aims to explore AI’s societal impacts.
The Ethical AI Initiative, set to launch in the 2025-26 academic year, encompasses various courses, including Dr. Hannah Highlander’s ordinary differential equations class. This course will encourage students to scrutinize the ethical dimensions of mathematical models in machine learning while integrating AI studies across disciplines like business analytics and educational technology. Dr. Nelson-Marsh emphasizes that understanding AI’s influence enables wide-ranging majors to ethically integrate these technologies.
Dr. Valerie Banschbach, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, notes that the University of Portland is among the pioneering institutions to offer a comprehensive Ethical AI Initiative. The program’s mission reflects the university’s commitment to developing well-rounded individuals who can navigate an increasingly AI-driven world. The initiative aims to equip students with critical AI literacy framed by strong ethical values.
Dr. David Mengel, the University Provost, states that the initiative highlights the university’s goals by giving every student, regardless of their field, a chance not only to utilize cutting-edge AI technology but also to question its appropriate applications. This initiative builds on the university’s commitment to fostering dialogue and innovation in response to AI advancements.
Last year, the University hosted a national conference on Catholic Higher Education and AI, and plans for the second gathering in October are already underway. This endeavor reinforces the university’s ongoing collaboration and engagement in the ethical implications of AI in education and beyond.
The University of Portland is pioneering a transformative Ethical AI Initiative, aiming to provide a robust ethical framework for future professionals in an AI-infused landscape. By integrating critical discussions about AI into various courses, the initiative empowers students to navigate and redefine the impacts of this technology ethically. With a commitment from the faculty, the initiative supports a holistic approach to education, preparing students not just to use AI tools, but to engage with their implications thoughtfully.
Original Source: www.businesswire.com
