Ohio State is leading a bold, groundbreaking initiative to integrate artificial intelligence into the undergraduate educational experience. The initiative will ensure that every Ohio State student, beginning with the class of 2029, will graduate being AI fluent — fluent in their field of study, and fluent in the application of AI in that field.
AI for small business owners
Building on this broad effort to advance AI education and application, including beyond its campuses, Ohio State is empowering small business owners with the skills to use AI with intelligence confidently. AI pathways, two online, self-paced courses, will provide resources to help business owners use AI to address their individual needs — whether launching or growing a business, finding efficiencies or identifying new ideas.
To learn more and register, visit the Professional and Continuing Education website.
Redefining learning and innovation
Embedding AI across the curriculum
All undergraduates will develop foundational generative AI skills through the required General Education Launch Seminar and participate in GenAI workshops integrated into the First Year Success Series. The new "Unlocking Generative AI" course will be available to all majors, equipping students with essential AI skills to interact with AI creatively and responsibly while exploring AI's impact on society.
Equipping faculty
The Michael V. Drake Institute for Teaching and Learning will expand resources to help faculty incorporate AI into their teaching and learning. Expanded resources and support will enable faculty to build and modify courses, while deeply and thoughtfully integrating AI into degree pathways so that every discipline benefits from AI-augmented learning that reflects the latest advancements.
Enabling student innovation
Students will gain entrepreneurial, hands-on AI experience by working alongside industry experts through initiatives like GenAI prototyping workshops. Programs such as the OHI/O hackathon, AI-powered seminars and startup-focused courses will empower students to build real-world solutions and critically engage with AI’s potential and ethics.
AI Fluency learning outcomes
- Explain foundational concepts such as artificial intelligence, large language models, machine learning
- Explore the potential benefits and limitations of common AI applications in the context of a chosen field
- Evaluate the types of inputs and outputs foundational to AI systems — including data, prompts, commands and emerging modalities — and explain how input form and quality influence output quality, performance and reliability
- Use AI tools to accomplish specific goals in the field of study, and critically assess outputs for accuracy and relevance to the task
- Design innovative applications of AI within a discipline, supported by a rationale for the potential value and feasibility
- Explore the implications (ethical, societal, environmental, legal, practical) of AI use cases and develop reasoned recommendations for responsible implementation within a field of study
Upcoming AI Fluency events
“Through AI Fluency, Ohio State students will become 'bilingual' — fluent in both their major field of study and the application of AI in that area. Grounded with a strong sense of responsibility and possibility, we will prepare Ohio State’s students to harness the power of AI and to lead in shaping its future of their area of study.”
AI Fluency Forum
Wednesday, November 12
9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Ohio Union Performance Hall
A collaborative space for Ohio State educators to share experiences, challenges and ideas for using AI in the classroom. Throughout the day, attendees will see tangible demonstrations and presentations from other faculty on:
- Teaching in AI: Teaching AI and its field applications
- Teaching with AI: Utilizing AI to enhance or optimize teaching and learning
- Utilizing AI for Research: Applying AI in research, including ways it can inform the classroom
Learn more and register to secure your spot at the AI Fluency Forum.
AI in the classroom
Ohio State faculty from all fields are putting AI to work in their courses. In these candid conversations, they share the experiences, challenges and insights shaping the future of teaching and learning.
Read their stories.
Steven Brown
Department of Philosophy
AI is here to stay. We need to be preparing our students for the new world that is rapidly emerging: teaching them how to learn, work and be creative in ways that enhance the human experience.
Molly Downing
Division of Pharmacy Education and Innovation
It is really important for our university to creatively and strategically think through how we are going to support faculty, staff and students toward becoming AI fluent.
Subbu Kumarappan
Ohio State ATI
I want students to understand how quickly AI is changing the business world — and how to use it to build their skills and careers.
Tell us about your work!
We are actively finding ways to celebrate, recognize and support high impact work at Ohio State that’s already being done or planned related to AI Fluency. We would love to hear more about what you are doing.
AI Teaching Support Resources
Learn more about Ohio State's resources to help educators integrate AI ethically and intentionally.
- NEW! Teaching and Learning to Build AI Fluency Teaching Endorsement
Provides a foundation for understanding how AI works, the impact of AI on teaching and learning, how to use AI ethically in university courses and programs and to identify ongoing sources of information about the evolution of AI in higher education. Faculty and staff who earn the endorsement between December 2025 and August 2027 will be eligible to receive a $300 professional development incentive. Graduate students who earn the endorsement may be eligible for a transcript milestone recognizing their achievement. Learn more at the Drake Institute website. - Michael V. Drake Institute for Teaching and Learning
- Additional university resources
Learn more about how Ohio State is bringing clarity on how AI can be used ethically and responsibly to accelerate research, advance education and improve lives. Visit ai.osu.edu.