Utah AI Summit 2025: Dr. Penny Atkins Highlights Utah’s Strength in Responsible AI
Held on December 2nd, the 2025 Utah AI Summit brought together researchers, policymakers,
industry leaders, and educators to explore the state’s role in shaping the future
of artificial intelligence. Among the standout voices was Dr. Penny Atkins, Director
of Research & Science at the University of Utah’s Scientific Computing and Imaging
(SCI) Institute, who offered a clear and forward-looking perspective on how Utah can
lead in responsible, collaborative AI innovation.
In a groundbreaking conversation of Utah's leadership in advancing pro-human approaches
to artificial intelligence, Dr. Atkins was joined by:
• Zach Boyd, PhD, Director of the Office of Artificial Intelligence, State of Utah
• Porter Jenkins, PhD, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, Brigham Young University
• Kevin Moon, PhD, Director of the Data Science and AI Center & Associate Professor of Mathematics & Statistics, Utah State University
• Porter Jenkins, PhD, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, Brigham Young University
• Kevin Moon, PhD, Director of the Data Science and AI Center & Associate Professor of Mathematics & Statistics, Utah State University
Together, the panel discussed how Utah’s academic institutions, state agencies, and
private-sector partners can work together to advance AI in ways that are innovative,
ethical, and aligned with public needs.
Dr. Atkins highlighted the strong AI research momentum at the University of Utah and
emphasized the One-U Responsible AI Initiative, a coordinated effort across the university
to integrate responsible AI principles into research, education, and practice. She
underscored the importance of collaboration across sectors, noting that progress in
AI depends on shared priorities and coordinated efforts between academia, government,
and industry.
The panelists agreed that Utah is uniquely positioned to shape the landscape of responsible
AI—supported by its research universities, expanding tech ecosystem, and statewide
commitment to thoughtful innovation.
Penny Atkins, PhD, is the Director of Research & Science at University of Utah's Scientific Computing and Imaging Institute. She supports One-U Responsible AI Initiative and serves on the AI Leadership Team.
