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Empowering Education with AI: Internet2 and Google's New Initiative

In a significant move to promote artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education, Internet2 and Google recently unveiled the Internet2 NET+ Google AI Education Leadership Program (ELP). This joint initiative is designed to facilitate responsible AI adoption across colleges and universities, ultimately reshaping teaching, research, and administrative practices.

A Collaborative Pathway for AI Integration

The Internet2 NET+ Google AI ELP provides higher education institutions with a structured, community-driven framework. By focusing on collaboration, insight sharing, and best practices, this program transcends the traditional software licensing model and creates an environment conducive to collective learning and growth.

Google's robust AI tools, including Gemini and NotebookLM, are set to be integrated within institutional curricula, empowering educators and administrators to streamline operations, enhance learning outcomes, and prepare students for future challenges in the digital landscape.

Scaling Responsible AI: A Community Effort

The program emphasizes a commitment to ethical AI usage, ensuring that security and transparency remain priorities. Sean O'Brien, leader of Internet2’s NET+ cloud services program, remarked on the transformative role AI plays in research and education. “Our goal is to help member institutions lead the way through this initiative. By collaborating with Google, we address the pressing challenges and explore the vast opportunities AI presents,” he stated.

The first cohort of the NET+ Google AI ELP includes ten institutions representing diverse public and private universities nationwide, collectively serving over 325,000 students. This selection showcases a variety of academic backgrounds, including notable names such as New York University, the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Washington.

Jennifer Sparrow, Associate Vice President for Research and Instructional Technology at New York University, highlighted the importance of shared strategy over isolated tool adoption. She noted that initiatives like the Internet2 NET+ Google AI ELP foster a collaborative space vital for institutions to navigate the complexities of AI adoption effectively.

Amplifying Collaboration and Knowledge in AI

The program not only facilitates direct access to Google experts but also fosters a supportive educational community. Participating institutions will engage in:

• - Cohort Onboarding: Institutions journey together in a structured setting to share insights and solve common challenges, ensuring no entity feels isolated amidst AI’s complexities.
• - Community of Practice: A dedicated environment for continuous dialogue and collaboration among participants. This channel allows institutions to share successful strategies and AI use cases.
• - Training and Enablement: Comprehensive resources will be made available to faculty and administrative staff, ensuring that a wide range of stakeholders can confidently implement AI into their practices.
• - Interaction with Google Experts: Direct lines to Google teams facilitate feedback and future product innovation that meets the sector's evolving needs.
• - Insights and Case Studies: The program results will generate valuable case studies and knowledge-sharing events, assisting the wider community in leveraging AI effectively.

As Drew Sidel, head of North America for Google Workspace and AI for Education, mentioned, “AI holds remarkable potential for learning and discovery. Our collaboration with Internet2 underscores our commitment to ensuring that our advanced AI tools are both secure and accessible within the educational context.”

Looking Ahead: A New Model for AI in Education

The Internet2 NET+ Google AI Education Leadership Program not only signifies a milestone in AI implementation within academia but also establishes a sustainable model for future adoption. With plans for subsequent cohorts, the initiative aims to broaden engagement, fostering a landscape where institutions can learn and grow together as they navigate the increasingly influential role of AI.

Through this transformative program, the higher education community will harness AI’s capabilities, ensuring a future where technology and education advance hand in hand, paving the way for innovations that resonate across academic disciplines.

For more information, visit the Internet2 NET+ Google AI Education Leadership Program webpage.