UW–Madison designates 2026 as the ‘Year of AI Readiness and Competency’ – UW–Madison News
UW–Madison designates 2026 as the ‘Year of AI Readiness and Competency’ – UW–Madison News
https://news.wisc.edu/uw-madison-designates-2026-as-the-year-of-ai-readiness-and-competency/
Publish Date: 2026-05-21 18:57:00
Source Domain: news.wisc.edu
- The University of Wisconsin–Madison will designate 2026 as its “Year of AI Readiness and Competency” to prepare students, faculty, and staff to use artificial intelligence thoughtfully and responsibly.
- The initiative stems from the AI-focus area in the university’s RISE-AI program and aligns with the university’s five-year strategic framework.
- The University aims for a “people first” approach that emphasizes recognizing appropriate use, necessary skills, and flexibility in AI adaptation rather than solely focusing on technology.
- The AI Readiness and Competency Working Group, co-chaired by Didier Contis and Kristin Eschenfelder, has been established to develop a framework for AI use across the campus.
- Guiding principles include AI augmenting human capacity, deliberate decision-making, and campus-level coordination with local flexibility.
- The group will work on providing clear AI guidelines, reviewing existing university policies, coordinating AI literacy resources, and providing short and long-term governance recommendations.
