Post updated Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, with new information on the town halls.
We’re excited to update you on progress on the provost’s initiative for AI at the UW and announce next steps for getting involved in this transformative work.
As announced at the Provost’s Town Hall in February, developing an institutional strategy for artificial intelligence is imperative for the University. The UW has a responsibility to lead in the conversation around AI – not only in potential applications but in their ethical and equitable use. To meet the challenges and opportunities that AI represents, Provost Tricia Serio and President Ana Mari Cauce appointed a Task Force on Artificial Intelligence to suggest a UW-wide strategy for AI earlier this year.
Charge to the AI Task Force
Charged with preparing a comprehensive vision and strategy, the AI Task Force developed a range of proposals covering every aspect of university life and work with and for our local and global communities, guided by the following principles and assumptions:
- The UW has a responsibility to lead in the conversation around AI — not only in potential applications, but in their ethical and equitable use.
- The responsible use of AI requires a basic understanding of AI.
- Incorporating faculty, staff, and students is important and consistent with the University of Washington’s mission to preserve, advance and disseminate knowledge and prepare students for a future where AI will be an integral part of their professional and personal lives.
The task force carried out its charge with five working groups:
- Research and Knowledge Creation/Transfer
- Student Services
- Teaching and Learning
- Infrastructure
- Administration
The WAISTAR framework
Building on proposals submitted by the working groups, the task force developed a framework integrating vision and strategy. The Washington AI Initiative for Society, Teaching, and Research (WAISTAR) focuses on key areas of Education, Research, Student Experience, and Operations, to address a wide range of ways to enable AI through training, community, infrastructure, expertise and collaborations, as well as the necessary investment and governance to create a visionary and sustainable AI strategy at the UW. WAISTAR is a framework that can accelerate the UW’s considerable strength in AI and associated disciplines at the center of the UW’s and UW students’ futures, in service to the public good.
We’re in this together
This vision is not just an outcome of the AI Task Force; it’s a way for the entire institution to move forward into an AI-empowered future. To learn more and join the conversation, please take some time to review an abbreviated version of the AI Task Force recommendations in narrative or slide format. This version is a summary of the initial report to the provost, highlighting key recommendations and a long-term vision for the UW to lead a human-centered, AI-fueled transformation in teaching, learning, research and operations. Share your feedback and input via an institution-wide survey that is open until 5 p.m., Oct. 25.
Other ways to get involved
Please join us to learn more about AI at the UW with a weekly series of town halls from late October through early December.
We begin on Thursday, October 24, with “What is AI?” that is designed to build a shared understanding of AI’s foundations, opportunities, potential, and risks. This session will set the stage for future discussions by demystifying AI and exploring how it may impact our work, research and daily lives.
The next session will be Wed., Oct. 30 on “AI for Research and Research in AI.” Scheduling is underway for the following town halls and details will be announced soon.
- AI for Student Success
- AI for Education
- AI for Teaching and Learning
- AI Infrastructure
- AI for Administration
Each town hall will explore a different aspect of the future of AI at the UW and will include a moderated question and response session where everyone is encouraged to share their perspectives. All town halls will start at noon PST and end at 1:20 p.m. Check back here next week for the YouTube link that will give you access.
We look forward to your participation and input as we create this future together!