Penn Faculty Embrace Artificial Intelligence in Education
As artificial intelligence (AI) tools become increasingly prevalent in academic settings, University of Pennsylvania faculty are exploring innovative ways to integrate these technologies into classrooms without compromising the educational experience. Since announcing a University-wide AI policy in November 2023, Penn has encouraged instructors and students to use AI responsibly while maintaining academic integrity.
The policy outlines a commitment to transparency and accountability, urging students to adhere to course-specific guidelines regarding AI usage. This flexible framework allows individual departments and professors to tailor AI integration to their unique teaching objectives.
Penn AI Council Leads Strategic Initiatives
In fall 2024, Penn established the Penn AI Council under its “In Principle and Practice” initiative. This council serves as a strategic hub to coordinate AI-related efforts across disciplines, foster research collaboration, and guide investment priorities.
“The AI Council was created to figure out a strategy to coordinate AI activities across the University,” said René Vidal, professor at the Perelman School of Medicine and co-chair of the council. “We align schools, faculty, donors, and alumni with a small set of talking points that can guide where the investments of the University are going.”
However, Vidal emphasized that the council does not impose rules or direct classroom policies. “We want Penn students to be better prepared for the ‘AI world,’ and we want Penn to be the leader in training both our students and faculty,” added co-chair and Natural Sciences professor Bhuvnesh Jain.
Classroom Innovation with AI Tools
Jain recently piloted a course titled “Introduction to AI: Concepts, Applications and Impact”, aimed at demystifying large language models and exposing students to AI’s broad applications. The half-credit course featured ten guest speakers, including venture capitalists, media professionals, and Penn faculty from diverse disciplines, to offer students a holistic view of AI’s potential.
“There are ways that AI can accelerate learning, and there are things about AI that you need to learn in order to do it well for yourself,” Jain said. He emphasized the importance of teaching students “more innovative ways” to engage with AI tools.
Professor Robert Ghrist, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education in the School of Engineering and Applied Science, has taken a hands-on approach by co-authoring a linear algebra textbook using AI. “This was a collaboration between me and the AI… it took me about 120 hours of work and over 55 days to produce,” Ghrist shared. He also creates AI-powered virtual assistants for each of his courses, equipped with syllabi, learning objectives, and tailored study guides.
AI Integration in Language Learning
Faculty in Penn’s Japanese Language Program are also leveraging AI to enhance language instruction. Professor Megumu Tamura views AI as a supportive educational tool. “I find it highly useful for brainstorming, generating ideas, and helping students locate appropriate reading materials more effectively,” she said. However, Tamura also emphasized the need for careful design, warning that poorly implemented AI risks undermining cognitive development.
Alongside colleagues Ryo Nakayama, Saki Hirozane, and Nana Kolb, Tamura presented at the 2025 Language Educator Symposium, highlighting responsible AI use in language education. Kolb detailed how they use AI for interactive exercises, interview simulations, and character recognition. “We believe that AI supplements human instruction by providing scalable practice opportunities and personalized feedback,” Kolb noted.
Kolb added that successful AI integration must “empower rather than replace student agency.” Their approach combines custom GPTs, task-based learning, and gamification to create a dynamic and engaging learning environment.
Collaboration Across Disciplines
Jain concluded by stressing the importance of institutional collaboration. “It’s not difficult for one professor or even the entire computer science department to seize AI and try to do great things, but it is really hard for a university to pull that off,” he said. “Beginning by starting to work as a team across schools, I think we are in a pretty unique position to do so.”
This article is inspired by content from Original Source. It has been rephrased for originality. Images are credited to the original source.