Revolutionizing education, research and health care through AI
By Alisha Dulaney
UT System Communications Intern
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming higher education, research and health care – offering both immense potential, unprecedented opportunities and unique challenges. The University of Texas System’s academic and health institutions are working hard to explore, integrate, expand on and innovate around AI in ethical and sustainable ways that supports students, educators, researchers, health care workers, clinicians – and above all Texans and the future of our great state. Here are a few ways UT institutions are meeting the needs of the education and health care sectors.
UT Arlington: Ethical Use of Generative AI
UT Arlington has introduced “Guiding Principles for use of GAI” for its faculty and staff, emphasizing ethical and transparent AI usage. These principles discourage relying solely on AI without human oversight and critical thinking, encouraging responsible adoption that mitigates biases.
UT San Antonio: New College for AI and Data Science
UT San Antonio recently announced the launch of a new college dedicated to AI, cybersecurity, computing, and data science. Set to open by fall 2025, it will be the first of its kind in the country and was created in response to rising student interest in these fields. The college aims to boost workforce development and drive economic impact at local, state and national levels.
UT Austin: Year of AI
UT Austin declared 2024 the “Year of AI,” a strategic campus-wide initiative to drive transdisciplinary collaborations, advance groundbreaking research and develop future leaders. In 2023, for example, the university became the first top-ranked institution to offer an online masters in AI. And it continues to build on its strength in the core areas of AI, with one significant consideration throughout – ensuring the work is done for the benefit and good of society.
UT System: AI Symposium in Health Care
The first UT System AI Symposium in Health Care, hosted by UT Southwestern, brought together UT institutions to explore AI’s real-world applications in health care. The symposium highlighted AI’s potential to reduce labor costs, provider burnout and documentation time. Ethical concerns, including patient privacy and equitable representation in AI models, were also key topics. The event emphasized the need for thoughtful AI adoption to revolutionize health care.
UT Health San Antonio and UT San Antonio: Dual Degree in AI and Medicine
UT Health San Antonio and UT San Antonio have teamed up to create the nation’s first dual degree program in AI and medicine. This five-year program offers students a Doctor of Medicine from the Long School of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio and a Master of Science in AI from University College at UT San Antonio. The program – which saw its first class graduate this past spring – is on track to equip future health care professionals with AI expertise to improve diagnostic and treatment outcomes.
UT Tyler: AI Framework
UT Tyler has introduced an AI framework to guide all members of its community on how to effectively and responsibly incorporate AI into their respective teaching and learning experiences, when applicable. Additionally, the framework puts an emphasis on academic integrity and online opportunities.
