Artificial Intelligence (AI) at the U

The David Eccles School of Business is implementing a vision for AI‑fluent education that integrates generative AI into core learning while keeping critical thinking, ethics, and decision‑making at the center. The initiative supports both students and faculty through training, shared resources, and career-aligned guidance to prepare graduates for an AI‑enabled workplace.

At the 2025 Utah AI Summit, Dr. Penny Atkins highlighted Utah’s growing leadership in responsible AI through strong collaboration between universities, state government, and industry. She emphasized the University of Utah’s research momentum and the One‑U Responsible AI Initiative as key drivers for embedding ethical AI practices into research and education. The panel agreed that Utah’s coordinated, cross‑sector approach positions the state to advance innovative AI that aligns with public trust and societal needs.

Post-exam reflection can turn math tests into powerful learning tools. Associate Professor Rebecca Noonan-Heale is using AI to make this process more engaging by having students analyze mistakes and discuss missed problems with a chatbot. This approach provides personalized feedback at scale, supports students who can’t attend office hours, and encourages deeper understanding of concepts. Early results suggest improved learning, and the model is being shared with other instructors as a promising teaching strategy.

Academic advising is essential for student success, but documentation can be time-consuming. To address this, leaders have introduced formal standards for using Zoom’s AI Companion to summarize advising sessions. These guidelines ensure accurate, FERPA-compliant records while reducing administrative burden, allowing advisors to focus on meaningful student engagement. By streamlining workflows, this initiative strengthens advising continuity and supports proactive academic planning.