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Next-Gen AI

A new CWRU-Microsoft collaboration will expand use of artificial intelligence on campus

Case Western Reserve University and Microsoft are exploring how the university can apply the computing giant's artificial intelligence (AI) technology to enhance and transform academics, research and administrative operations.

The collaboration expands on the university's decade-long partnership with Microsoft, which began with the development of HoloAnatomy, an augmented-reality software for medical students.

It also complements the efforts of the university's 40-member AI in Education Task Force. So far, task force members and others have brainstormed ideas such as teaching students to use AI to analyze large data sets, and helping faculty develop customized AI tutors to provide students struggling with a subject, questions or problems as well as verbal explanations about what they got right or wrong—and why. Ideas for outside the classroom include adding chatbot assistants to the CWRU website that similarly simulate a human conversation with an end user. Think recently spoke about the initiative with Miro Humer, CWRU's vice president of university technology and chief information officer.

Describe the impact of this agreement on the educational experience.

Microsoft's capabilities in AI can arm Case Western Reserve students with advanced understanding of not only how to use AI effectively but also ethically. [In addition], the Microsoft platform right now is the best and broadest platform for AI. This will give students exposure to the technology and give faculty the ability to make this part of their curriculum. Every class is going to have some level of involvement. It's going to be a great study tool for students as they move forward, and as they go out into the job market, this is something they're going to be expected to know how to use

What happens next in the classroom?

What students will learn this year will be a foundation. It will teach them what AI is as a category and what kind of critical thinking they're going to need to have to take advantage of it. AI will give you the answer you ask for, but you have to know how to ask it questions.

— DAN MORRELL