News

HAIL Participatory Approaches in Data Brownbag Series: Data Sharing Practices

HAIL Participatory Approaches in Data Brownbag Series

Welcoming the Inaugural Cohort of HAIL Graduate Student Awardees

We are pleased to introduce the newest members of the HAIL Graduate Student Awardees Program!

Through this program, the following students have the opportunity to explore the questions: "What does responsible data and AI use and development entail in different disciplines or professions?" and "What individual actions can be taken to practice responsible data and AI use and development?"

More information about the program is available here.

A Look at the Growth of Pitt's Data Science and AI Forum

The DataSci+AI Forum brought together the University of Pittsburgh's work at the forefront of promoting responsible AI and data science practices. Building on Pitt Data Science Day in 2025, the 2026 edition drew a substantially larger audience and reflected broader engagement both within and beyond the University of Pittsburgh. We were interested in comparing the two years and it shows that the AI and Data Science Forum is increasing in scale and strengthening its ability to bring together a wider community around data science and artificial intelligence.

2026 Data Science and AI Forum Best Poster Award Winners

We are proud to announce and showcase the Best Poster Award winners at the 2026 Pitt Data Science and AI Forum Student Poster Session. The presenters of the following posters were awarded a cash and merchandise prize. Congratulations to our award winners and all who submitted posters for a great poster session!

On-Chain Decentralized Learning and Cost-Effective Inference for DeFi Attack Mitigation — Abdulrahman Alhaidari

Putting AI in the Syllabus: Time for a Shared Conversation

Faculty members across our network are identifying an exciting and timely opportunity: the chance to establish a shared language and clear guidance for addressing approved instructional uses of AI within course syllabi.

Pitt Releases Guidance on AI Program Naming

The University of Pittsburgh's Provost Office has published official guidance on naming conventions for AI-related academic programs. Developed by Bruce Childers and Michael Colaresi, the document establishes principles to ensure that AI degrees across Pitt's schools carry consistent, meaningful names, so that students and employers alike can clearly understand what each program delivers.

Reclaiming the Future: Reflections from the LSET GenAI Co-Design Session

On April 22, 2026, educators and learning scientists gathered in Pittsburgh for "Co-Designing Teaching for a Gen AI World, Together"—a convening hosted by the LSET community at the University of Pittsburgh. HAIL was proud to be part of the conversation, and we left energized.

AI-Powered Research Tools for Life Sciences: Now Being Tested at Pit

Ansuman Chattopadhyay, librarian at the Molecular Biology Information Service (MolBIS) within the University of Pittsburgh’s Health Sciences Library System, is buildi

AI Teaching Field Notes: Learning to Trust (But Verify)

Professor Alexandros Labrinidis is using AI in teaching, research, and more. He used it the day a classroom platform crashed five minutes before a lesson. And he uses it to spark class discussions, particularly when AI's mistakes create a live teaching moment that deepens the conversation.

We Asked Our Community How They Use AI. Here’s What Two Days Revealed.

At this year’s DataSci+AI Forum, we wanted to know something simple: how is our community actually using AI? Not in theory — in real life, right now. So we put up a board and asked everyone to place a dot.

Data Science and AI Forum Day One: Research Poster Showcase

HAIL@Pitt hosted the Pitt Data Science and AI Forum on March 26-27. As part of the Day 1 program, a student poster session was conducted where selected students could present their research to a wider University audience. The posters presented are shown below in first-name alphabetical order.

Forum to explore how Pittsburgh and Pitt factor in artificial intelligence explosion

In its post-industrial reinvention period, Pittsburgh evolved from the iconic “Steel City” into Western Pennsylvania’s hub of “eds and meds,” reflecting abundant educational opportunities through the city’s research universities and world-class medical centers. Continue reading...

What Pitt Students Actually Think About AI — And What It Means for Higher Education

With the DataSci+AI Forum on March 26–27 just around the corner, we've been thinking about what it means to build AI strategy that's grounded in real human experience. A study conducted last year, right here at the University of Pittsburgh offers a timely and provocative set of answers.

How Are Students Actually Using AI?

The headlines say students are cheating their way through college with AI. The data says it's more complicated.

Pitt's own Annette Vee — Associate Professor of English, Director of the Composition Program, and a leading researcher on AI and writing — recently synthesized findings from over ten major reports on student AI use, including her own original research with Pitt students. Here's what stands out.

Gen AI in academia, leadership changes among topics in Senate Council reports