AI Summit
May 5, 2026

Ethics > Events >

AI Summit

ai-summit_2026

About the AI Summit

The second annual MSU Ethics AI Summit will be held on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at the STEM Teaching and Learning Facility. This event will bring together faculty, staff, librarians, and students from across disciplines to highlight AI innovation at MSU and shape our institution’s role in AI education, research, and everyday use.

Campus will be activated the first week of May, with events focused on teaching and learning innovation, student success, and graduate teaching support. We hope these events will offer opportunities for creative crossovers and strategic collaboration.

Please save the date and stay tuned for more details, including registration, time, and agenda. This page will include updates as they become available.

If you have questions regarding the AI Summit, please contact Ana Lesage, MSU Ethics Institute assistant director.

 

Previous AI Summits

Recordings and Presentations

Keynote Speaker

Lauren Klein

Lauren Klein is Winship Distinguished Research Professor and Associate Professor in the departments of Quantitative Theory & Methods and English at Emory University. She directs the Emory Digital Humanities Lab and the Atlanta Interdisciplinary AI Network. Klein’s research brings together computational and critical methods in order to explore questions of gender, race, and justice. She is author (with Catherine D’Ignazio) of the award-winning Data Feminism (MIT Press, 2020), and editor (with Matthew K. Gold) of Debates in the Digital Humanities (Univ. of Minnesota Press), among other publications. She is currently completing Data by Design: A History in Five Charts, forthcoming from the MIT Press in 2025.

Agenda

  • 8:30-9 a.m.: Registration and Networking
  • 9-9:15 a.m.: Opening Remarks
  • 9:15-10 a.m. Keynote Address
  • 10-11 a.m.: Panel Discussion: AI and the Future of Knowledge: What should we be preparing for? 
    The first panel will explore how AI is reshaping the industry and workforce, highlighting opportunities, and how MSU can equip students, faculty, and staff to thrive and lead in this evolving landscape. This session is designed for everyone, regardless of your AI familiarity. Whether you’re just starting to explore the topic or have experience, our goal is to ensure the panel supports all attendees.
    • Moderator: Johannes Bauer, Ph.D.
    • Panelists
      • Anjana Susarla, Omura-Saxena Professor of Responsible AI, Eli Broad College of Business
      • Tara Behrend, John Richard Butler II Endowed Professor, School of Human Resources and Labor Relations, College of Social Science
      • Arun Ross, Martin J. Vanderploeg Endowed Professor, Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), College of Engineering
      • Scott Powell, Ph.D., Chief Data Officer, State of Michigan
  • 11-11:15 a.m.: Break
  • 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.: Panel Discussion: AI as a Partner in Research and Learning
    The panel will explore how AI is reshaping academia, how it can enhance learning and research, and how to foster deeper understanding while addressing ethical considerations and preparing faculty and students to succeed in this rapidly changing space.
    • Moderator: Gillian McDonald, Ph.D.
    • Panelists
      • Jiyoon Yi, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and College of Engineering
      • Mohammad Ghassemi, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Computer Science and Engineering, College of Engineering
      • Dennis Kennedy, JD, Director of the Center for Law, Technology & Innovation, College of Law
      • Thomas Hancock, Ph.D., Senior Principal, Thought Leadership & Research, Office of the Chief Learning Officer, Accenture
  • 12:15-1:15 p.m.: Lunch
  • 1:15-3 p.m.: Breakout Sessions
    • AI's Impact on Society and Workforce Readiness, facilitated by Danielle DeVoss, Ph.D.
    • Advancing AI Research & AI-Enhanced Research, facilitated by John Verboncoeur, Ph.D.
    • Transforming Teaching & Learning with AI, facilitated by Sonja Fritzsche, Ph.D.
    • AI in University Operations & Administration, facilitated by Sarah Gretter, Ph.D.
  • 3-3:15 p.m.: Break
  • 3:15-3:45: Breakout Session Report Out
  • 3:45-4 p.m.: Closing Remarks