Deploying AI University-Wide with a Light TouchSteve Athanas - UMass Lowell In July 2024, UMass Lowell deployed ChatGPT campus wide as part of its broader initiative to integrate generative AI tools into both academic and administrative functions. This presentation will outline the university’s comprehensive rollout plan, which led to substantial productivity gains and exceptionally high user satisfaction, as demonstrated by recent user surveys. Attendees will gain insight into the phased approach that allowed for seamless adoption across various departments, with a focus on skill-building sessions tailored to different user groups. These sessions ensured that users—from beginners to advanced—could effectively incorporate ChatGPT into their daily tasks and workflows. The discussion will also highlight the significant benefits of deploying generative AI tools in higher education, such as improved decision-making, enhanced administrative efficiency, and streamlined academic processes. Furthermore, attendees will explore the advantages of adopting a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model for generative AI, including scalability, reduced infrastructure costs, and quicker deployment timelines compared to build-it-yourself solutions. The session will be highly interactive, featuring live demonstrations of generative AI use cases relevant to higher education. Attendees will also have the opportunity to see AI applications in real time, including some examples derived directly from audience input, showcasing the flexibility and adaptability of the technology. By the end of this session, attendees will be able to clearly articulate the benefits of introducing generative AI tools to large user groups at a university, using UMass Lowell’s successful deployment as a model. They will also take away strategies for developing their own AI rollout plans and a survey blueprint to measure productivity gains and user satisfaction after deployment. Learning Objectives
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