What happened when we put AI to work

In early August, 30 faculty and staff from across Cornell and Weill Cornell Medicine came together to explore how artificial intelligence might change the way the university develops technology solutions. Participants brought experience building AI-powered tools, workflows, and applications, expecting to compare approaches and test new ideas. Instead, many discovered that the biggest challenges were not technical at all. As AI makes it faster and easier to create software, the work of defining goals, establishing standards, and bringing the right people together becomes even more important.

During two days of discussion and hands-on collaboration, participants explored a new AI development methodology and examined how AI could accelerate everything from planning to implementation. Conversations repeatedly returned to themes of governance, shared practices, institutional knowledge, and cross-unit collaboration. Many participants concluded that AI's greatest value may not be in replacing human expertise, but in creating more opportunities for people to focus on problem-solving, decision-making, and collaboration.

The workshop also highlighted the benefits of bringing together colleagues from across colleges, units, and disciplines to tackle common challenges. By the end of the event, participants had gained not only new perspectives on AI, but also a deeper appreciation for the human relationships, shared understanding, and intentional collaboration needed to make AI successful at Cornell.

Read the full story on the Information Technology at Cornell website.