Sean Corp, Communications Lead
Technologies like extended reality and generative AI continue to transform how people live, learn, and work. The upcoming “XR, Generative AI, and the Future of Experiential Technologies” Innovation Summit will highlight how the University of Michigan embraces this transformation and supports experimentation with new kinds of residential and online educational opportunities.
The summit, hosted by the Center for Academic Innovation (CAI), will be held Oct. 16 and 17 at the Michigan League. It will feature faculty innovators from the University of Michigan and Michigan Medicine who will discuss embracing extended reality and artificial intelligence in their classrooms and training programs, as well as exploring potential future applications of these transformational technologies.
In addition to the featured faculty innovators, the summit will feature keynote speakers from GRX Immersive Labs and Coursera. Staff from the CAI will highlight how they partner with faculty to incorporate generative AI skills, extended reality technology, and virtual production into online courses and residential classes.
Alton Glass, chief executive officer of GRX Immersive Labs, will discuss how his studio uses XR in innovative and immersive storytelling and education as the keynote speaker during Day 1 of the summit. Day 2 will feature Mustafa Furniturewala, the chief technology officer of Coursera, who will discuss how Coursera is incorporating generative AI into its platform and also partnering with institutions like U-M to host online courses that teach people foundational and job-specific generative AI skills.
Summit attendees can also enjoy networking opportunities, presentations on experiential technologies, vendor demonstrations, including from Apple, which will showcase the Apple Vision Pro, and the celebration of the winners of a student Hack-a-thon and student showcase of XR and generative AI technology projects.
Featured U-M faculty include Deb Lee, assistant clinical professor at the School of Nursing, who will lead a panel on experiential technology use in healthcare. Michael Nebeling, associate professor at the School of Information, will moderate a group on XR technologies in the classroom. Nick Gaspar, director at the University of Michigan-Flint and adjunct lecturer in nursing, will discuss the use of generative AI technology on campus. Chris Brooks, assistant professor at the School of Information, and Rebecca Quintana, director of blended and online learning design at the center and adjunct lecturer at the Marsal Family School of Education, are leading discussions on generative AI as a learning tool. Kentaro Toyama, the WK Kellogg Professor of Community Information at the School of Information will participate in a faculty panel discussion on the policy and ethics of generative AI use.
Jeremy Nelson, senior director of creative studios at the center, will open the summit, introduce speakers, and guide attendees through the agenda, and Sarah Dysart, the center’s senior director of online learning will lead a session about generative AI in online education. The center’s XR design team, including virtual production producer Chimela Mgbeahuru, will discuss how they use the center’s XR stage to create virtual environments and engaging XR experiences in online courses.
The summit is free to attend and registration is required. Both days of the summit feature a light breakfast and lunch. To register, visit ai.umich.edu/events.
