Ohio State University is launching a comprehensive artificial intelligence fluency initiative that will integrate artificial intelligence into the core undergraduate experience. The effort is designed so that every Ohio State student, beginning with the class of 2029, will graduate being artificial intelligence fluent in their field of study and in the application of artificial intelligence within that field. The program aims to create an artificial intelligence first educational environment in which students do not simply learn about artificial intelligence tools in isolation, but use them throughout their studies to enhance learning, creativity and real world impact.
The curriculum will embed generative artificial intelligence across general education and first year programs, starting with the required General Education Launch Seminar where all undergraduates will develop foundational generative artificial intelligence skills. Students will also participate in GenAI workshops integrated into the First Year Success Series, and a new course titled “Unlocking Generative AI” will be open to all majors. That course is intended to equip students with essential artificial intelligence skills to interact with systems creatively and responsibly while examining how artificial intelligence affects society. Beyond the classroom, initiatives such as GenAI prototyping workshops, the OHI/O hackathon, artificial intelligence powered seminars and startup focused courses will give students entrepreneurial, hands on experience in building real world solutions and engaging critically with the ethical and societal implications of artificial intelligence.
Faculty support is a central component, with the Michael V. Drake Institute for Teaching and Learning expanding resources to help instructors thoughtfully incorporate artificial intelligence into teaching and learning. These resources are intended to help faculty build and modify courses so that every discipline benefits from artificial intelligence augmented learning that reflects current technological advances. The artificial intelligence fluency learning outcomes emphasize explaining foundational concepts such as artificial intelligence, large language models and machine learning, exploring benefits and limitations of common artificial intelligence applications in specific fields, evaluating inputs and outputs such as data, prompts and commands, and understanding how input quality affects performance and reliability. Students are expected to use artificial intelligence tools to accomplish specific goals in their field of study while critically assessing outputs for accuracy and relevance, design innovative artificial intelligence applications supported by clear rationales for value and feasibility, and explore ethical, societal, environmental, legal and practical implications to develop recommendations for responsible implementation. The initiative is supported by a faculty advisory council, a newsletter, forums and focused resources such as artificial intelligence in the classroom, artificial intelligence for small business owners and artificial intelligence for staff.
