Distinguished Professor Kosali Simon and Professor Coady Wing from the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs will bring together leading academic voices and faculty experts to explore the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on research, pedagogy, and policy implementation at the AI and Public Affairs: Tools, Methods, and Translation workshop Jan. 16 from 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
The workshop is designed to bridge the gap between emerging AI technologies and their practical application in the public sector. Featuring a robust schedule of keynote addresses and interactive faculty roundtables, the event aims to foster a collaborative environment where scholars can share insights on the ethical and efficient integration of AI.
“The workshop is bringing people together to share how they have been using AI in their research and in their teaching.” Wing said. “There is a lot of activity around AI, but sometimes it can seem very abstract. Seeing some examples of how a few people are using AI to try to deliver a better course can help people figure what they want to do in their own class. Likewise with research: aa specific example can be very stimulating even if your own research goals are quite different.”
The agenda includes a trio of keynote addresses and faculty roundtables. Keynote speakers include Peterson Family Assistant Professor Alyssa Bilinski from the Brown University School of Public Health, who will speak on the use of AI in research workflows; Associate Professor Kevin Bryan from the University of Toronto, who will present AI tools for research and policy analysis; and Professor Justin Ross from the O’Neill School, who will lead a session on the evolving landscape of AI in teaching and research education.
“AI is rapidly reshaping how we generate knowledge, evaluate evidence, and make policy decisions,” Simon said. “This workshop is about more than understanding new tools—it’s about learning how to use them responsibly, transparently, and in ways that truly improve research quality, teaching, and public outcomes.”
The AI and Public Affairs Workshop will be held in Room PV169 at the O’Neill School. Faculty interested in participating in the roundtables or scheduling one-on-one meetings with the guest speakers are encouraged to contact the organizers.