AI Spring Symposium, “AI in Action: Insights from the UCSB Community”
April 28-May 2, 2025
The goal of the AI CoP Spring Symposium is to create space for the UCSB community--faculty, staff, researchers and students--to share their insights, concerns and data-driven approaches for using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to advance the mission of our University.
Purpose and Goals of AI CoP
The UCSB AI Community of Practice (CoP) is dedicated to exploring and advancing AI in ways that are ethical, equitable, and aligned with our campus mission and values. By fostering collaboration and sharing of resources, the CoP equips the community to navigate AI’s complexities. Our goals are to:
Provide a central hub for connecting UCSB community members who work with, or are curious about AI, to learn from and with each other.
Facilitate the discovery and sharing of AI use cases, needs, and approaches that support UCSB’s mission and values.
Promote understanding of AI’s risks and trade-offs to support data-driven decision making.
Provide input to campus governance bodies on AI policies and best practices for use/deployment.
Gather community feedback to guide UCSB’s AI technology investments, including staff support and funding needs.
AI-CoP: An Inclusive Community
The Community of Practice is an inclusive environment that welcomes the active participation of all interested members of the UCSB community. We invite you to join the AI CoP and any of its subgroups. The whole AI Community of Practice (CoP) communicates through Google Chat, a google group email, and a shared Google events calendar.
To learn about quarterly meetings and whole group events.
For daily exchanges, links and informal conversations.
Join the AI CoP Google Calendar
For easy access to AI CoP events.
AI Special Interest Groups (SIGs)
SIGs provide opportunities for campus members with similar interests to explore and learn together in a smaller group setting. SIGs typically meet monthly.
There are four special interest groups that you can join:
- AI for Workplace Productivity group to explore and implement AI solutions that enhance workplace efficiency and streamline processes.
- AI for Teaching and Learning subgroup to investigate how AI can be used for teaching and learning, while critically evaluating its risks, affordances, and tradeoffs.
- AI for Research group to explore how AI can advance research within and across disciplines, identifying both affordances and limitations.
- AI for Applications Development group to collaborate on integrating AI-driven features and tools into new and existing applications to enhance user experiences, streamline development, increase efficiency, and drive innovation.
AI Resources
UC Office of the President Resources
- UCOP’s Responsible AI Principles
(See page 8)
Source: UCOP - UCOP AI Primer
Core Concepts and Fundamentals: interactive online training
Source: UCSB Office of Teaching and Learning Resources
UCSB Resources
- Office of Teaching and Learning Guidance for AI/LLMs
- OTL’s AI in Classes webpage
How to adapt instruction to AI - AI 101 - Course Edition
Sample class policies, prompts, and privacy - AI 102 - Fundamentals of AI Literacy
What AI is, what AI isn’t, how AI is built, biases hallucinations, AI in disciplines and industries
UCSB Security Recommendations for AI use
From Jackson Muhirwe, CISSP, Ph.D., Chief Information Security Office Oct 2024 memo:
Before using AI chatbots or any AI-powered services, carefully consider the information you are submitting. Once you provide personal or sensitive data to an AI service, you lose control over where it might be stored or how it could be used in the future.
Do not share personal information such as your home address, phone number, social security number, or government-issued ID numbers with AI tools. These details could be at risk of exposure if the AI platform isn’t secure.
It is essential to be aware of the AI policies and regulations in place at the organization or institution you are working with. You can check out UCOP's Presidential Working Group On Artificial Intelligence to better understand how the University is handling the integration and utilization of artificial intelligence.
If you work with sensitive or proprietary data, avoid discussing it with public AI chatbots. These systems may not have adequate security measures in place to protect your information.
When possible, use enterprise or educational AI services. These versions are designed to keep your organization's data secure and prevent it from becoming part of a public learning model.
Be cautious when sharing original ideas with AI chatbots, as anything you provide may be accessible to others. If you want to protect your intellectual property, refrain from sharing it with AI unless you are comfortable with the possibility of it being used more broadly.
Upcoming Events
Past Events
AI CoP Leadership
Executive Sponsors
Linda Adler-Kassner, AVC of Teaching and Learning
Josh Bright, AVC of Information Technology/Chief Information Officer
Co-Directors
Lisa Berry, Senior Instructional Consultant (Office of Teaching and Learning)
Joe Sabado, Deputy CIO (Information Technology Services)
Advisory Committee
Ann-Marie Musto, Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief Human Resources Officer
Daniel Frank, Writing Program Lecturer
Maryam Majedi, Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science
Renee Rottner, Associate Professor/Faculty Diversity Officer, Technology Management Program
Rita Raley, Professor, English Department