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Penn State Smeal College of Business launches a comprehensive, college-wide AI initiative to integrate AI across teaching, research, and operations, emphasizing responsible leadership in an AI-driven economy.

A key quote from Dean Corey Phelps frames AI as an immediate, responsible leadership opportunity with the aim of shaping the future rather than merely adapting to it.

Momentum from fall 2024 shows heavy AI tool use among faculty and staff, with ongoing initiatives like eLDIG, Smeal Academy, AI Innovation Day, and the GenAI Committee laying groundwork for a cohesive college-wide strategy.

Curriculum innovation is advancing through the AI Innovation in Business Education program, redesigning courses to embed AI applications across disciplines so graduates gain practical AI skills with ethical judgment.

Faculty and staff development is driven by the Smeal Academy, featuring GenAI Series and AI@Work programs, with dean-sponsored Copilot licenses to apply AI in teaching, research, and administration.

The initiative aims to build AI literacy, ethical awareness, and critical thinking for students, faculty, and staff, aligned with the Smeal Honor Code and broader strategic priorities.

Secure, compliant access is piloted through BoodleBox, an enterprise-grade platform for premium AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity) within a university-approved environment to ensure privacy and data protection.

The initiative is framed as a culture shift, not just tool deployment, aiming to enhance learning, research, and operations while upholding core values.

Over the next 12 months, Smeal will pilot AI in undergraduate and graduate programs, develop responsible AI policies, launch a college-wide AI literacy initiative, and expand access to leading AI platforms.

The project is guided by the Smeal Honor Code and aims to prepare principled, innovative leaders who can navigate technological disruption with confidence and conscience.