Dear Center for Academic Innovation Community,
As we navigate an era of rapid technological change, one thing is clear: AI is no longer on the horizon—it is here, actively reshaping the way we teach, learn, and create. At the University of Michigan, we are committed to leading this transformation with intention, ensuring that AI enhances human potential rather than simply automating tasks. As we continue to embrace and navigate the era of AI and its potential to transform teaching and learning, I am consistently impressed by the enthusiasm and support from U-M leaders and with innovation led by faculty, staff, and students.
Today, I’m excited to announce the latest cohort of generative AI projects, featuring 10 new initiatives led by faculty and units from across U-M and Michigan Medicine. Supported by the Academic Innovation Fund, these projects bring together more than 40 faculty and staff from nine schools, colleges, and units. The center will provide financial and in-kind project management and development support to help translate their ideas into meaningful applications and impactful learning experiences.
These projects showcase the depth and breadth of innovation throughout U-M. Each addresses key issues facing students and instructors. Teams will explore the use of AI to improve assessments, provide personalized tutoring, provide health care simulations for clinicians in training, and facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration. Partners include the School of Public Health, the School of Information, Michigan Medicine, the Sweetland Writing Center, and the U-M Library.
These efforts are part of a broader shift—one that moves beyond AI as a tool for efficiency and instead embraces it as a force for creativity, augmentation, and new possibilities in education. AI has the potential to help learners discover the upper limits of their capabilities, enabling more personalized, meaningful, and human-centered learning experiences. But this requires more than just technology—it demands thoughtful design, a commitment to equity, and an understanding of what makes learning uniquely human.
Generative AI is continuing to transform industries and plays a critical role in supporting teaching and learning. Over the past two years, we have expanded our AI educational portfolio, creating nearly 40 courses with two dozen more in active development. If you’re interested in exploring the content in many of those courses, you can explore the curated playlists found in our Artificial Intelligence Collection on Michigan Online. These courses equip learners with both foundational knowledge and job-specific skills to navigate an AI-driven world. As technology advances, we will continue developing courses that equip students and lifelong learners with the skills they need—not just to keep pace with change, but to shape the future.
As we look ahead, we remain focused on the responsible use of AI in education, working closely with faculty, leadership, and industry partners to explore how AI can augment learning rather than replace it. By investing in what works, prioritizing human relationships in learning, and ensuring that AI serves as an enabler rather than a substitute, we can create a future where technology helps unlock human potential at every stage of education.
Go blue!
James DeVaney
Special Advisor to the President
Founding Executive Director of the Center for Academic Innovation
Associate Vice Provost for Academic Innovation