Dear Bentley community,
I have been reading and thinking a lot about the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on all facets of our economy and society. AI is already affecting education, research, business operations and our daily lives. I’m certain AI has been a topic of conversation in your classrooms, conference rooms and team meetings for many months. With technology evolving rapidly, expectations for our students, faculty, staff and university are also changing fast. We’ll need to develop new practices and policies quickly to help Bentley adapt to the changing marketplace, as we’ve always done.
Today I’m announcing the creation of a task force on Artificial Intelligence in Education, Research and Business Operations, established to understand and strategize around how we use and engage with the topic of artificial intelligence at Bentley. This task force complements our focus on a Culture of Leadership and Innovation, as called for in our strategic plan. It will aim to understand how we are already using AI as well as identify the opportunities, gaps and risks for Bentley. Based on those findings, the task force will make recommendations for evaluating the responsible and effective use of AI at the university. It is imperative that this task force consider a positive and ethical approach to the use of AI in education and business, in alignment with our Bentley values.
To get this balance right, the task force will need the knowledge and participation of people from across the university. The task force will be co-chaired by Chief Information Officer Liz Hess, Assistant Professor of Computer Information Systems Mareike Mohlmann and Provost Paul Tesluk. Co-chairs Hess, Mohlmann and Tesluk will be identifying community members with specific expertise to ask them to join the task force as well as identifying opportunities for the community to engage in the conversation. If you’d like to share your knowledge and interest, please email Liz Hess (lhess@bentley.edu).
I look forward to the co-chairs updating the community on their progress by the end of the academic year. There is no doubt that AI will revolutionize how we learn, work and live. This task force will help lead Bentley toward a more intelligent, data-driven future. Staying at the forefront of AI will encourage our students, faculty and staff to find ways to harness this awesome technology in ways that strengthen our university and make a positive impact on the world.
Most sincerely,
Brent