2026 AI in Education Working Group Report
The AI in Education Working Group was established by its co-executive sponsors, Provost Laurie McCauley and VPIT-CIO Ravi Pendse. It was charged to explore the thoughtful, ethical, and effective integration of artificial intelligence into teaching and learning at the University of Michigan. This exploration included the relationship of AI to models of liberal arts inquiry and instruction, as well as circumstances in which AI may not be appropriate for use based on desired learning outcomes. The working group was charged to consider balancing AI and Large Language Model (LLM) usage with maintaining core knowledge in the fundamentals of the discipline of study and promoting critical thinking skills.
The group built on prior working group reports by reviewing their findings, assessing current initiatives, and identifying future opportunities to strengthen the educational impact of AI across the university. These reports included, most importantly, the June 2023 Generative Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee Report (known as the GAIA Committee Report) as well as reports on high-performance computing and AI in research at Michigan.
The working group’s focus on AI in education meant two related but distinct sets of questions:
- The opportunities and challenges presented by AI for education. As elaborated in the report, this included both pedagogical approaches as well as assessment and academic integrity across the university units and student bodies.
- Education for AI. The working group was charged to articulate (at a general level) the AI competency U-M graduates should possess.
June 2023 Generative Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee Report
We are pleased to share with you the initial report from the U-M Generative Artificial Intelligence Advisory (GAIA) Committee.
This group was tasked with assessing the opportunities and challenges posed by generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), particularly as it relates to U-M and our ongoing mission. We want to thank every member of the committee who spent countless hours crafting this report.
GenAI is shifting paradigms in higher education, business, the arts, and every aspect of our society. This report represents an important first step in U-M serving as a global leader in fostering the responsible, ethical, and equitable use of GenAI in our community and beyond.
As you review this document, we ask that you consider the context of how it was created. This is meant to be a catalyst for crystalizing our thinking about how U-M should navigate the shifting landscape of GenAI. Some of you will appreciate the proposed directions laid out by this report. Others might only see this report as a discussion starter. More than anything, we are looking to ignite much-needed conversations.
Please note that this report is by no means comprehensive. We understand that there are some areas that are heavily represented and others that are underdeveloped. Our approach to GenAI needs to continue to evolve and iterate as new information comes our way and more campus experts engage.
This report, admirably created by faculty, staff and students on our campus, lays a proposed foundation for how U-M might live and work with GenAI. We look forward to all the discussions the report will inspire and to working together to create an action plan for the future.
Please feel free to contact either of us to share your thoughts and feedback.
Laurie K. McCauley
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Ravi Pendse
Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer