An engineer and computer scientist by training, David Ebert has built his career at the intersection of artificial intelligence, data, and decision-making. His work focuses on visual analytics, explainable AI, and human-computer teaming to create systems that solve complex real-world problems while remaining easy to understand and use.
Leslie Hawthorne Klingler, Office of Research and Partnerships
His mission as the University of Arizona’s first chief AI and data science officer (a rare role in higher education nationwide)
To accelerate AI efforts by enabling campus communities to use AI in a safe, sustainable, effective and human-centered way.
In this Q&A, Evert outlines how AI can enhance the mission of universities and make them more human.
Why did University A invest in a chief AI officer?
AI is already changing every part of our mission—education, research, and service—and how we deliver the work that makes it all possible. Across higher education, issues such as scattered deployment of AI tools on campus, duplicative development and spending, inconsistent standards, and preventable failures are readily apparent. We want to avoid that and allow the AI to enhance the mission rather than distract from it.
Chief AI Officer and Responsibility As Director of the Office of AI, my mission is to work with informed communities to set priorities and determine how to use AI effectively. We are a service organization, providing leadership, guidance and expertise based on a broad range of voices and collective cross-disciplinary knowledge.
David Ebert, chief AI and data science officer at the University of Arizona, was part of a panel of AI experts at the recent AI in Leadership Summit hosted by the Office for Responsible Artificial Intelligence.
Chris Hanning, Office of Research and Partnerships
How does AI compare to past technological changes?
I often describe AI as the next digital transformation, the transition to computerization, but compressed. Computerization has evolved over several decades. With AI, a simpler, easier-to-use version of the technology arrived in about 18 months. It is this speed that creates challenges and brings about change. Another way to think of it is like the smartphone revolution. High-performance computers are now in everyone’s pocket. With AI, that level of change is coming all at once.
How can AI make universities more human, rather than less human?
AI can take mundane matters off our plates, so we can spend more time doing things that only humans are good at. When used in this way, AI will not replace the human core of universities. It protects us by freeing us to teach, guide, discover, and care for others more practically and deeply.
How are you developing an AI deployment that mirrors the University of Arizona?
We began by building a roadmap that defined where we were and where we wanted to go, with input from Campus City Hall. The initial roadmap team included 262 faculty, staff, and students, and over 1,000 participants gathered at City Hall. Recently, we have been meeting with departments and groups across the university to present, listen and gather more feedback. We have prepared the first round of recommendations. The next step is to circulate the draft for feedback from the Roadmap Team, Faculty Senate, Staff Council, and Deans.
What new resources will be launched to support the campus community during this transition?
Many people don’t realize that when they use large language models online with a free account, what they type becomes public. It could violate confidentiality and FERPA and could give away their ideas. Instead, the community Free and safe AI tools A: What universities provide to employees and students through university information technology services.
The Office of Responsible AI will also launch a new AI platform this spring that will provide a suite of generative AI and traditional machine learning tools to all members of the campus community. new AI platform university This extends the university’s existing free and secure access to the extensive Amazon Web Services technology stack, providing cost savings and the flexibility to update or replace AI models as technology changes.
Participants of the AI in Leadership Summit will gather outside the Wyant College of Photonic Sciences building.
Chris Hanning, Office of Research and Partnerships
What does academic integrity mean in a world of AI?
Academic integrity has not changed. Only the tools have changed. We still need to be ethical and responsible. This means you need to do your work, be transparent about what you use, including generative AI, and cite it appropriately.
The real question is: What skills are you trying to build? Our job is to graduate students with capabilities that will remain valuable for decades, not capabilities that are outsourced to the next tool.
What choices make the U of A’s AI approach distinctive, not just competitive?
Universities are under tremendous pressure to move quickly and “bring AI into the classroom now” and give students access to it without having to step back and ask, “What are the learning outcomes?”
Our job is to listen carefully, address concerns, act in an inclusive manner, and build trust across our community. I hope people will say that we are leading by weighing factors responsibly, and that the evidence is showing up where it matters: in the success of our students and the positive impact we have on our communities.
