Here are highlights of the group’s efforts in September:

• The Steering Committee compiled and consolidated the working groups’ recommendations into a draft AI report, with plans underway to present and discuss the report with the initiative’s executive sponsors during the October Steering Committee meeting.
• A pilot of Cloudforce nebulaONE is underway, with nearly 1,000 participants engaged in the effort. The tool provides access to multiple large language AI models through a single, user-friendly interface. Additional, similar tools are under consideration for evaluation.
• The Infrastructure Working Group is investigating several existing university spaces for possible use as server rooms while assessing long-term infrastructure needs. Noting overlap in infrastructure requirements, the CIO requested that the group also incorporate general research computing needs into its scope.
• The Academic Working Group focused on faculty engagement and institutional guidance, emphasizing the need to build robust resources for faculty and students covering syllabus guidance, ethical considerations, and pedagogical applications, among other topics.
• Other working groups focused their efforts on coordinating recommendations for the preliminary report to leadership.

Here are highlights of the group’s efforts in August:

• The steering committee is gathering recommendations from working groups for a preliminary report and recommendations about AI at the university. Concerns shared at the AI@Rutgers Initiative feedback form are being integrated into the recommendations, as appropriate.
• An email update with guidance and resources about AI at Rutgers was sent to faculty and staff.
• The Technology Working Group is moving forward with the pilot of a tool that provides access to multiple large language AI models through a single, user-friendly interface.
• The newly formed Infrastructure Working Group is evaluating Rutgers facilities to assess capabilities and needs for current and future AI uses. The group is planning surveys and interviews within Rutgers and with peers to assess needs and consider options.

Here are highlights of the group’s efforts in July:

• The steering committee is now shifting its work to providing a preliminary report and recommendations about AI at the university.
• A variety of AI tools have been evaluated for potential licensing and deployment in the first phase of the Technology Working Group’s AI pilot program. Feedback is being gathered and considered to guide future decision-making. The next phase includes piloting a tool that provides access to multiple large language AI models through a single, user-friendly interface.
• The initiative’s working groups have developed various findings and resources to guide future recommendations and plans for AI, including the following:
  • The Academic Working Group has drafted findings that include AI-related resources for instructors and students, potential policies impacted by AI, and gaps in process, support, and resources related to AI use in courses and academic activities.
  • The Clinical Working Group has consolidated findings on gaps and opportunities in advancing AI at Rutgers in the clinical and biomedical domains. Its recommendations include enhanced coordination among AI-related departments and centers, as well as a centralized AI resource hub listing AI initiatives and training.
  • The Research Working Group conducted a gap analysis for AI in research, leading to efforts to develop a centralized research data storage tool, a draft policy for AI in research, and priorities for AI literacy, among other efforts.
  • The Administrative Working Group has endorsed a pilot proposal for a strategic workforce development initiative designed to increase data fluency and AI literacy.

Here are highlights of the group’s efforts in June:

• A new Infrastructure Working Group has been formed and will begin its work in July. The group will focus on evaluating and addressing the infrastructure requirements necessary to support the university’s expanding artificial intelligence research initiatives. The group is being co-led by Thomas Vosseler, Executive Director of IT, School of Arts and Sciences, and John Lyons, Associate Director of Information Technology within the Enterprise Infrastructure division of OIT.
• Efforts continue to evaluate a range of AI tools and technologies for potential licensing and deployment at Rutgers. Participants in the pilot program testing these technologies met in a Q&A session, with a follow-up session scheduled for July.
• The initiative’s working groups have continued to gather information and assess the state of AI at Rutgers and peer institutions. Priorities identified include: developing best practice guidelines for faculty, staff, and students in the use of AI; support for designing AI-aware and/or AI-friendly courses and programs; plans for AI literacy and education programs tailored to educators and researchers; enhancing collaboration and communication between the various AI-related initiatives, symposia, courses, and other efforts at the university.

More than 100 faculty members, researchers, technologists and others are now part of this effort to understand, guide, and support the use of artificial intelligence at Rutgers.

Here are highlights of the group’s efforts in May:

• Efforts continue to evaluate a range of AI tools and technologies for potential licensing and deployment at Rutgers. Pilots are underway for several platforms, including Microsoft Copilot for Office 365, ChatGPT Edu, and Google Gemini for Education. Another AI system, Anthropic Claude, will also soon be made available to pilot testers for a short-term trial. Additionally, the Technology Working Group is in the process of securing access, for pilot testers, to a new generation of AI platforms that allow users to use multiple large language AI models and other technologies through a single, user-friendly interface.
• Opportunities for community engagement are being considered. A meeting with a town hall format is under consideration for the fall semester.
• Efforts are underway to form a new group to identify infrastructure needs associated with AI at Rutgers.
• A Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) survey about AI is being developed and will help to provide insights about AI at peer institutions.
• Work continues to collect and process information on available policies, AI-related tools, and training resources for the Rutgers community.

The AI@Rutgers Initiative continues to advance its efforts to understand, guide, and support the use of artificial intelligence at Rutgers. Nearly 100 faculty, researchers, technologists, and staff are now involved in the initiative’s working groups, collaborating to explore and provide recommendations on issues with implications for nearly every aspect of university life.

Here are highlights of the group’s efforts in April:

• The initiative is evaluating a range of AI tools and technologies for potential licensing and deployment at Rutgers. Pilots are underway for several platforms, including enhanced versions of Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, ChatGPT, and others, with participants providing feedback to inform future decisions.
• To assess the state of AI within Rutgers and at peer institutions, an institutional profile matrix was created to help collect information related to AI activities at peer institutions, including current technologies in use, policies adopted for AI, governance processes, support resources, and more.
• Members of various working groups are compiling information on existing resources, tools, training, and guidelines already in use across the university.
• The group worked with Senior VP and CIO Michele Norin to draft and send an update on AI at Rutgers to faculty and staff.
• A contact form for the initiative is now available. Initial feedback reflects concerns around academic integrity, societal impacts of AI, and the need for training resources.

The AI@Rutgers initiative is making progress on multiple fronts:

• More than 80 experts from across the university are now contributing to the initiative, addressing critical questions to help shape Rutgers’ approach to AI.
• The initiative website now includes a feedback channel for members of the Rutgers community to submit questions and inquiries. The website also includes working group descriptions and membership lists.
• Evaluations of AI software and tools are underway, with the goal of making recommendations for potential availability at Rutgers. The products being reviewed and considered include ChatGPT, Google NotebookLM (a personalized AI research assistant), and Microsoft 365 Copilot (an enhanced version of Microsoft’s Copilot AI tool for use with Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and other Microsoft products). Also being considered are AI systems providing a unified interface with access to a variety of large language models.
• Efforts are underway to assess the state of AI within Rutgers and at peer institutions. The information collected through these efforts will be used to compare current states, identify strengths and gaps, and explore opportunities for enhanced collaboration and prioritized action.

The AI@Rutgers initiative is engaged in efforts to make progress in shaping the university’s approach to AI. The steering committee and working groups are focusing on key issues, such as the following:

• the need for guidance and training on AI tools
• the review and approval process for procuring AI tools and products (especially as this relates to data security and privacy considerations)
• the readiness of the academic community to deal with the deployment of AI tools and services

Outreach efforts have expanded participation in these groups, ensuring broad representation in shaping Rutgers’ AI strategy. Additionally, an AI Community Roundtable is being planned to engage stakeholders and gather input on AI adoption at Rutgers.

Across the initiative, efforts are focused on assessing AI use cases, gathering best practices, and exploring pilot programs to evaluate emerging technologies. Discussions are also underway to ensure appropriate guidance, training, and resources are available to support faculty, staff, and students.

The AI@Rutgers initiative is underway, with a Steering Committee tasked with coordinating and consolidating guidance and recommendations on the development, implementation, and governance of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies at Rutgers. Five working groups (Academic, Administrative, Clinical, Research, and Technology) have been formed to address specific goals such as assessing AI opportunities, recommending governance and ethics frameworks and guidelines, identifying and prioritizing AI solutions, and developing a report for university leadership. To encourage participation beyond the working groups, a Community Roundtable is being created to hold events for discussion about various AI-related issues and projects.