AI at U of I: Purpose, possibility and responsibility

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At University of Idaho, we see artificial intelligence as a powerful tool and a responsibility. As Idaho’s land-grant R1 research university, we are working to advance AI through research, prepare students for an AI-enabled workforce and develop thoughtful approaches to using the technology in teaching, learning and university operations.

We don’t believe AI should be uncritically embraced or rejected. We believe universities have a responsibility to understand it, question it and help shape how it is used.

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Shaping the future of AI

Artificial intelligence is changing how we work, learn and solve problems. It is reshaping research across disciplines, transforming careers and industries, and creating new possibilities for how we understand and interact with the world.

It also raises important questions. How do we protect privacy and sensitive information? How do we address bias and misinformation? What are the environmental costs? How do we preserve the value of human creativity, critical thinking and connection when technology can increasingly do more for us?

These questions deserve more than easy answers. They are exactly the kinds of complex questions universities are equipped to explore.

U of I has a responsibility to help shape what comes next. That means exploring how AI can accelerate research, enhance learning and help address challenges facing Idaho and the world — while freeing people to focus their talent and expertise where they can make the greatest impact. It also means understanding the technology critically and considering where AI should, and should not, be used.

AI is a tool. We have agency in how we use it, when we use it and why we use it. Some of the most important work at U of I will continue to happen through human connection, collaboration and the sustained effort of thinking, creating and discovering together.

Our goal is not simply to adapt to AI, but to help shape its future — advancing its potential while preparing our students, our university and our state to navigate what comes next.

AI resources for employees

Find AI tools, guidance and resources for using AI at U of I

Explore AI resources

How researchers used AI to improve safety in sugar processing

See how University of Idaho researchers partnered with Amalgamated Sugar to develop an AI-driven solution that improves both safety and production at its processing facilities. 

AI in action

AI research at U of I spans disciplines, from agriculture and engineering to healthcare and environmental science. Researchers are applying AI and machine learning to real-world challenges, partnering with industry and other universities to develop solutions that can make a difference in Idaho and beyond.

Advancing ALS research

U of I researchers are using AI to explore the medical complexities of ALS in collaboration with Washington University School of Medicine. The project is supported by a Longitude Prize on ALS Discovery award, which supports innovative approaches to accelerating ALS research.

Developing stronger, more resilient crops

A $6 million National Science Foundation EPSCoR grant is bringing together AI experts, engineers, plant biologists and geneticists from U of I, Clemson University and the University of Nebraska Medical Center. The team is using AI to improve the predictive science behind breeding higher-yielding, more resilient crops including wheat, corn and sorghum.

Improving industrial safety and efficiency

U of I researchers and students are partnering with Amalgamated Sugar to develop an AI-powered predictive system that analyzes hundreds of data points from industrial equipment. The system can provide early warnings of potential equipment failures, helping improve worker safety and maintain production efficiency.

Exploring AI-powered wastewater management

U of I graduate students are working with Inland Empire Paper to explore how AI and digital-twin technology can improve wastewater treatment. By analyzing data from the company’s manufacturing and wastewater systems, the project aims to identify potential problems and help operators make more informed decisions about the treatment process.

Advancing AI research in Idaho

U of I is the only institution in Idaho participating in the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR) Pilot, a National Science Foundation initiative that provides researchers and educators with access to computing, data and training resources for AI research.

These projects represent just a few examples of how U of I researchers, students and partners are putting AI to work. Explore the latest AI research, discoveries and developments from across the university.

The U of I helped build the applied engineering, computational and interdisciplinary foundations that became important as AI matured into a real-world industrial technology. Our students don’t just learn how to use AI, they learn how to build AI tools and systems, teach computers to understand and generate language on state-of-the-art AI infrastructure and apply AI in the real world.

C. Scott Green

U of I President

AI in practice at U of I

AI isn’t confined to computer science. Researchers, employees and students across the university are exploring how AI can improve research, learning, industry and communities.

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Preparing students for an AI-powered future

AI is becoming part of how people work and solve problems across industries. At U of I, students are learning to understand, evaluate and apply AI in ways that complement their field of study and prepare them for the workforce.

Across the university, faculty members are incorporating AI into programs where it can strengthen learning and help students develop relevant skills for their careers. Whether students are studying engineering, agriculture, business, health, natural resources or another discipline, they can explore how AI is shaping their field.

For students who want to make AI their area of expertise, U of I offers dedicated programs designed to prepare the next generation of AI professionals, including bachelor’s, master’s and Master of Engineering degrees in artificial intelligence.

Build AI skills for your career

Students and working professionals can also build AI skills through certificates and other learning opportunities designed to expand their knowledge and apply AI in their work.

Student Arshia (Ash) Alizadeh Moghadam’s research project is about using AI to blend certain types of exterior and interior architecture styles to come up with interesting hybrid designs as well as determine what specific traits of a certain style people identify with the most.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) (UG Cert.)

Build foundational AI/ML skills by learning algorithms and applying modern tools to solve real-world challenges through an undergraduate certificate in artificial intelligence and machine learning.

View program details
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Artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) (GR Cert.)

Advance your AI/ML expertise by applying core concepts to real-world problems and developing solutions for an increasingly AI-driven world through a graduate certificate in artificial intelligence and machine learning.

View program details

Advancing responsible AI

AI’s potential comes with important responsibilities. At U of I, we believe responsible AI means more than simply using these technologies thoughtfully. It means building the knowledge, infrastructure and practices needed to use AI in ways that are trustworthy, secure and responsible.

Trust

AI is only as reliable as the data behind it. U of I is strengthening data governance and modernizing university data systems to help ensure information is accurate, accessible and secure. Our data modernization efforts are helping establish the foundation needed to use AI and other technologies with confidence.

Understanding

Responsible use starts with understanding. U of I provides employees and students with guidance, training and hands-on support to help them understand AI and use it thoughtfully in teaching, learning and their work. Faculty AI Catalysts across the colleges, professional learning opportunities and resources from the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning and the Library help our campus community navigate a rapidly changing technology landscape.

Security and privacy

AI should not come at the expense of protecting university information. U of I is investing in secure, university-controlled AI infrastructure and approaches that protect data and support responsible access to AI tools.

Stewardship

AI requires significant computing resources. U of I is exploring ways to reduce the energy, water and environmental costs associated with AI while making responsible decisions about the infrastructure needed to support research, education and innovation.

At U of I, these principles are not tradeoffs. We believe security, privacy, sustainability and innovation should work together and that responsible AI is essential to realizing the technology’s potential.

Currently, across our suite of internal AI tools, the electricity we use is approximately 70% less carbon-intensive than the average U.S. data center.  

Building AI tools at U of I

University of Idaho is developing and using AI to support research, improve university operations and connect people with expertise across campus. By reducing errors, streamlining routine tasks and removing bottlenecks, AI gives faculty and staff more time to focus on work that benefits most from human creativity, judgment and expertise.

MindRouter

U of I’s secure AI infrastructure gives researchers and university teams access to AI computing through university-controlled systems, providing a foundation for exploring AI while keeping university data and systems under institutional control.

VandalChat

VandalChat gives students and employees access to AI through university-owned hardware housed at Idaho National Laboratory. Available on university networks and through the university VPN, it helps keep university data and systems under institutional control while providing a lower-carbon alternative to many commercial AI providers.

UniVERSO

UniVERSO uses AI-powered semantic search to help students, employees and collaborators discover researchers and expertise across U of I. By connecting people with the right expertise for research interests, academic projects and collaboration opportunities, the platform makes it easier to find and build connections across disciplines.

Vandalizer

Developed at U of I, Vandalizer uses AI to help research administration teams work more efficiently with proposals, awards and compliance documents. The open-source, self-hosted platform extracts information from documents, answers questions with citations to the original sources and automates repetitive processes — all while keeping sensitive information on university-controlled infrastructure. The platform was developed through the NSF GRANTED program and is designed to be adaptable for use by other institutions.

Use of generative AI: OpenAI's ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude were used to assist with drafting, organization and editing of portions of this page. All content was reviewed and revised by University of Idaho personnel, who are responsible for the final content.