President Byerly has designated the 2024-25 school year as “The Year of AI Curiosity.” During this year, we invite all members of the Carleton community — students, staff, faculty, alumni, and community partners — to join us in a wide-ranging exploration of this developing technology and the benefits, challenges, and difficult questions it brings.

President Byerly’s announcement, from the September 26, 2024 edition of Carleton Today:

As the reach and impact of generative artificial intelligence (AI) continues to expand, the questions we have about it — as individuals, students, teachers, and professionals — also continue to grow. How can we prepare students for a world filled with AI tools, while also ensuring that they understand the value of preserving creativity, intentionality, and meaning in their work? How do we as a community grapple with the ethical issues raised by systems that can replicate bias, reinforce privilege, and amplify existing inequalities?

In thinking about how to come to terms with what role AI can, should, or will play at the College, Carleton’s strategic direction, Carleton 2033, offers a potential approach in its emphasis on the value of curiosity and experimentation. In this spirit, the President’s Cabinet has decided to designate this year “A Year of AI Curiosity” at Carleton. We will be offering programs, creating structures, and developing resources to help students, faculty, and staff explore tools, capabilities, and issues related to AI.

Last year, we established an AI Coordinating Committee, co-chaired by Provost Michelle Mattson and Chief Technology Officer Janet Scannell, with 15 additional faculty, staff, and student members. This group will continue to advise the campus on organizing programs and discussions in conjunction with college departments and offices.

In October, we will host a visit and lecture by Simon Cullen, assistant professor of philosophy and Dietrich College Artificial Intelligence and Education Fellow at Carnegie Mellon, who uses AI chatbots to train students in strategies for discussing controversial issues. Later this year, we will welcome José Antonio Bowen, author of Teaching with AI. The Perlman Center for Learning and Teaching (LTC) is also offering a number of AI-related workshops.

Read the full announcement of the Year of AI Curiosity.

Campus groups actively engaging with AI:

Other initiatives associated with the Year of Curiosity:

  • The Year of Curiosity podcast, which features conversations with Carleton community members about their experiences with AI
  • The formation of Carleton’s AI Coordinating Committee, which serves as a hub to gather and centralize resources and foster collaboration among stakeholders
  • The creation of AI Development grants, which provide faculty up to $1000 to develop AI-based courses, assignments, lessons, and programming