Nebraska universities exploring AI opportunities

Since ChatGPT launched in November 2022, AI has grown in popularity — and so have the concerns that come with it.

At least 90% of Americans have heard of AI, according to a survey last year. About 52% are more concerned than excited about the new technology.

Now, higher education institutions in Nebraska are responding to the growing interest in AI through programs for students, faculty and staff. Here’s how two universities are adapting to ensure their campuses are prepared to understand AI and how to handle the ethical challenges with it.

UNO prepping for new artificial intelligence degree

The University of Nebraska at Omaha is debuting a new artificial intelligence degree starting in January. Almost 30 students have been admitted to the program so far.

Mahadevan Subramaniam, the department head for information science and technology at UNO and a professor, said the university wants to help students learn how to harness AI in different areas while also being responsible with it.

“We want to make AI specialists,” Subramaniam said. “We want to make AI leaders, and we want them to also be aware of the societal and socioeconomic impacts of this and be responsible AI shepherds or AI leaders.”

Subramaniam said many careers can benefit from AI, including business, health and construction. UNO students in the program will have the opportunity to focus in on an area they are passionate about as part of their studies.

“We are trying to build into this degree a way for you to jump into the career of your choice with AI expertise,” Subramaniam said.

The university will also have what Subramaniam called a collaborative facility focused on AI to connect students with mentors and even help with internships. The campus also already has an AI learning lab for campus members to learn more about utilizing artificial intelligence.

Creighton University receives $250,000 for AI tools and programs

Google.org, the philanthropic section of Google, awarded a $250,000 grant to Creighton University to further its work with artificial intelligence.

Michael Paulus is the Creighton University librarian and has done extensive research on AI. He said the college plans to use this money for a project to introduce and train the campus community on AI tools.

“We're really just hoping to explore these tools with our faculty and students in real time, and help them learn how the tools work, learn what some of the possibilities are with these tools, learn what some of the limitations are,” Paulus said.

It goes further than learning the tools. Paulus wants to ensure students, faculty and staff know how to utilize AI in a responsible manner.

The university will also look at ways to integrate the technology into academic research.

“We are creating and shaping this technology as it is impacting us,” Paulus said.

Creighton also has a task force dedicated to generative AI to figure out what resources and support faculty need, as well as what concerns faculty have with the technology.

“I’ve been very impressed with the openness and flexibility of Creighton faculty to really face this,” Paulus said. “Administrators, too, to really not ignore this technology and hope it goes away, but to actually be very proactive and constructive in how we think about it.”