Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to shape teaching, learning, and research at the University of Rhode Island. From new academic programs and campus resources to interdisciplinary research and advanced computing, recent initiatives highlight URI’s growing commitment to responsible AI innovation.
Expanding opportunities for AI education
URI is launching a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary and Applied AI, combining practical AI skills, ethical decision-making, and collaboration across disciplines.
Offered through the College of Business in cooperation with the College of Arts and Sciences, the program will begin a phased launch in spring 2027 and be fully offered in fall 2027. Students will gain hands-on experience applying AI to real-world challenges, including a required internship.
Learn about URI’s new AI bachelor’s degree
Supporting responsible AI across URI
URI’s 2026 Academic Affairs AI Task Force report highlights progress and recommendations for the responsible use of AI in teaching, research, and university operations.
The report addresses opportunities and challenges involving ethics, access, policy, and implementation. Updated campus resources also connect faculty, staff, and students with AI guidance, workshops, research consultation, and computing infrastructure.
Explore the AI Task Force report and campus resources
Connecting researchers across disciplines
On November 6, URI hosted an AI Retreat at the Graduate School of Oceanography, bringing together opportunities for faculty and graduate researchers to explore AI and advanced computing across disciplines.
Organized by the Office of Research Development, the Institute for AI and Computational Research (IACR), and the Graduate School of Oceanography, the retreat program included presentations from IACR seed-funded research teams and interdisciplinary discussions.
Learn about the URI AI Retreat
Showcasing URI research through advanced computing
URI research will also be featured in the Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center’s (MGHPCC) showcase at SC26, an international conference focused on high-performance computing and related technologies.
The showcase features research from institutions across the region, including URI projects exploring black holes, ocean currents, hurricane impacts, renewable energy, and biomedical discovery.
It also highlights the shared UMass–URI Unity computing cluster and IACR, demonstrating how advanced computing resources support research and collaboration across disciplines.
Explore URI research featured at SC26
IACR’s AI Lab puts research into practice
From spring through fall 2026, the Institute for AI and Computational Research’s (IACR) Artificial Intelligence Lab supported student-led projects, interdisciplinary research, and hands-on training across URI.
Projects included developing AI-generated patient simulations for pharmacy education, using machine learning to identify deep-sea fish in underwater footage, and creating tools to streamline academic program reviews.
The lab also offered workshops on AI tools, programming, and data analysis, along with outreach activities for students and the broader community. Its fall report highlights the growing role of student researchers in applying AI to challenges across disciplines.
Explore the AI Lab’s fall 2026 report
Explore AI research and resources at URI
Through IACR and ITS Research Computing, URI researchers can access computing infrastructure, training, consultation, and opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration.