Cardinal Intelligence aims to make U of L an AI

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The University of Louisville is encouraging the ethical use of artificial intelligence across campus through a new initiative called Cardinal Intelligence.

The effort is aimed at helping faculty integrate AI into lessons and showing students how the technology can support their studies. Jeff Guan, the university’s executive director of AI strategy and innovation, is leading the rollout.

“We are creating the infrastructure, the governance structure for us to be an AI forward university,” Guan said.

He said the initiative is designed to apply AI across different areas of study, not replace them.

“You may be interested in communication, you may be interested in art that’s what we focus on,” Guan said. “AI is an enabler and it’s an important partner.”

August Babanskyj, a freshman at UofL, said he had not used AI much in his personal life before arriving on campus, but has started using it more in college.

“Helping me keep track of due dates and assignments and stuff like that,” Babanskyj said.

Guan said he considers this incoming freshman class the first AI-native class because many students used AI throughout high school. He said the university’s focus is on using AI to advance learning rather than on the more dramatic uses often associated with the technology.

Babanskyj said AI can help students organize information in ways that are easier to understand.

“I think it can be very helpful in that sense,” he said. “I know having everything organized in a way people can understand it better.”

Guan said the broader shift is not only about technology, but also about how the university adapts.

“It’s about organizational change,” Guan said. “This has really changed management. It’s managing the culture. It’s affecting just about every facet of an organization.”

Guan said he sees AI becoming a permanent part of UofL because of its role in students’ futures.

“In the near future an organization is really going to be an organization where AI is an integral part,” Guan said. “So you’re working along with AI and instead of just using AI for assistance, you’re actually using AI as a colleague.”

Babanskyj said he expects AI to continue growing in daily life and in the workforce.

“It is something that’s coming up with us,” he said. “For me in four years that’s something that’s going to be throughout all, if not, most of companies and even every day life.”

Guan said every student enrolled in a class has access to Google Education Plus, an AI tool. He also said the university has signed on with Google to help with security related to the university’s AI use.