Artificial intelligence (AI) will impact the University of Iowa in what we teach, how we teach, what we research, how we do that research, how we provide patient care, and the day-to-day work of the university. The university is committed to deploying AI responsibly and with integrity as a means to elevate human capabilities, not diminish them.  

Throughout human history, numerous advancements have been transformational. From mastering fire to inventing the wheel, the printing press, the steam engine, the Internet, and the World Wide Web, these innovations have significantly amplified human capabilities. They have enabled us to transcend past limitations and achieve feats once deemed impossible, ushering in new phases of human development and progress.  

Being AI-ready isn’t a choice. It’s a responsibility.  

Imagine a world where our graduates are not competitive in the job market because they lack basic AI literacy. A world where our researchers are falling behind because all their peers are finding ways to accelerate their research. A world where our students aren’t as successful in their academic pursuits as those at other universities. A world where our people lack a fundamental understanding of the ethical, privacy, and reliability issues around AI. It’s our responsibility to adapt to the world being transformed by AI.  

Embrace the future of AI. 

The rapid advancement of AI technologies has the potential to transform many areas of society. People and organizations that adapt to these changes will likely outpace those who don’t. Although feelings of fear and anxiety regarding the changes AI may bring are understandable, it is within our power to direct our course for the future. By embracing AI, and combining artificial with human intelligence, we can take control of our destiny, ensuring that we remain competitive and forward-thinking in an ever-evolving landscape.  

No one has this figured out.  

AI technologies are advancing at a pace that makes it very challenging to stay current, both with the technology and with the applications. We cannot let these challenges hinder the growth of our exploration of the opportunities available to us. It is critical that we experiment and remain agile and adaptable to the rapidly changing landscape. If we wait for other universities to set an example, we will inevitably fall behind. We have the opportunity to lead in many disciplines and use cases on our campus. In other instances, we will need to be observant and quickly adapt to the advances of others. This will require people on our campus who are closest to the subject matter to tap into AI’s potential.  

The university must provide its faculty and staff with the tools and training needed to successfully harness the positive potential of AI and most importantly must prepare our students to productively use AI.  

̶̶  AI Steering Committee  

Guiding principles for responsible AI adoption  

Every pillar of the university strategic plan stands to benefit from the transformative impact of AI. However, we need to be clear-eyed about the risks and ethical concerns that come with the technology. As we fulfill our mission, we will follow the guiding principles outlined below: 

Amplify human potential  

We deploy AI as a means to elevate human capabilities, not diminish them. We use AI to automate routine tasks, provide valuable insights, and create opportunities for higher-level thinking and problem-solving, allowing individuals to focus on tasks that require uniquely human skills such as empathy, complex reasoning, and creative innovation. Many of the biggest opportunities are in the combination of human and artificial intelligence as we leverage the broad and deep expertise of the campus. 

Collaboration and engagement  

Communication, interaction, and engagement are key elements of our success within our community. Using AI for collaboration with each other and with external partners and stakeholders, we can engage in accessible, effective communication in ways that respect and value different ideas and perspectives.

Excellence  

We pursue excellence in all we do by using AI to improve performance, quality, and outcomes in our academic, research, and service activities, as well as in our personal and professional development. We explore AI solutions that can help us achieve higher standards and goals in our endeavors.  

Digital and information literacy  

All our students need a foundation in digital and information literacy as an essential part of a core education. Learners in all disciplines must be prepared to use AI proficiently, safely, and ethically. The university will continually assess and ensure that our graduates have the knowledge and skills to apply AI in their area of study, including the ability to critically assess the output of AI systems for bias and inaccuracies. As a university, it is critical that we are intentional about the technology and tools and we adopt.  We need to drive adoption of the technology, not the other way around.   

Responsibility and integrity  

We use AI with integrity and responsibility by ensuring that our AI solutions are honest, fair, respectful, and ethical, and that they uphold our values and standards. We also ensure that our AI solutions are transparent, accountable, accessible in an equitable manner, and secure, and that they respect the privacy and rights of our community members and external partners.