Penn State’s business school is putting AI in everything

The Penn State Smeal College of Business on Wednesday announced a new initiative that will place generative artificial intelligence tools across its classrooms, research and operations.

According to the school, the aim is to ensure that students, faculty and staff are “equipped to lead responsibly in an AI-driven economy.”

“AI isn’t a future possibility — it’s here, now,” Corey Phelps, the business college’s dean, said in a press release. “As a leading business school, we have a responsibility to prepare our students not just to use AI, but to lead with it — with purpose, responsibility and integrity. The future success of our graduates depends on how well we rise to this moment.”

The press announcement notes that the initiative is “more than a technology upgrade — it’s a strategic response.” Some of the proposed uses of AI include redesigning courses to “embed” AI applications, providing faculty and staff with tools like OpenAI ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, proving opportunities to get licensed for those programs and providing tools to assist researchers in their work.

The school also advertised an upcoming pilot project that will include BoodleBox, a platform designed to provide secure access to a variety of AI platforms.

“This platform ensures responsible experimentation while maintaining Penn State’s standards for privacy, accessibility and data protection,” the announcement reads.