University of Alabama program pushes professors to embrace AI [Video]

From conversing with Mayan people to creating a virtual travel guide to debating the effectiveness of capital punishment, educators are using artificial intelligence n numerous ways to spice up classroom activities and assignments.

The University of Alabama is embracing the usage of AI in the classroom with the Artificial Intelligence Teaching Enhancement Initiative, which guides faculty on incorporating the technology in the classroom.

Initially classes started out at around a dozen faculty members. Now interest has ramped up and classes max out at 20 faculty members, with many more showing interest, according to the campus. The program also partners with UA Teaching Academy to host workshops about how to create innovative assignments while maintaining academic integrity.

University of Alabama associate professor of history Lawrence Cappello and assistant professor of anthropology Katherine Chiou founded the AI Teaching Enhancement Initiative in 2023. The two were intrigued as to how AI could be used to address student …