At UCLA, artificial intelligence isn’t just a future concept, it’s a present-day priority. Through the AI Innovation Initiative, UCLA Digital & Technology Solutions (DTS) is shaping how AI is thoughtfully explored, applied, and governed across the university. This campus-wide effort is helping UCLA navigate the evolving AI landscape with intention, collaboration, and care.
The initiative reflects UCLA’s commitment to institutional AI readiness. By engaging faculty, students, researchers, and staff in hands-on experimentation, building fluency in generative AI tools, and fostering responsible governance practices, the university is strengthening its capacity to lead in higher education innovation, both now and in the future.
The Challenge
As generative AI tools continue to evolve, UCLA recognizes a critical need: to strengthen institutional readiness, establish clear governance structures, and build the digital competencies required to integrate AI in ways that align with its academic values.
Without a coordinated strategy, AI adoption risks being inconsistent, inequitable, or misaligned with UCLA’s standards for data privacy, transparency, and student experience. The challenge is not just technical; it is cultural, organizational, and ethical.
An Experiment
In Fall 2024, DTS formalized the AI Innovation Initiative as a comprehensive effort to explore AI use cases while building the foundations of responsible use and governance.
The initiative was rooted in collaboration. UCLA partnered with OpenAI, Google, and internal stakeholders across research, instruction, and administration. This institutional alignment enabled a shared framework for AI readiness, grounded in equity, safety, and strategy.
Key actions included:
- Launching a Call for Proposals to encourage thoughtful experimentation across two phases
- Making AI tools from OpenAI and Google accessible through secure enterprise channels
- Supporting AI literacy as a core digital competency through workshops, events, and resources
- Creating new forums for cross-functional governance, ethics, and risk evaluation
- Evaluating pilot outcomes and gathering data to guide future implementations
The Impact
The initiative supported 68 pilot projects across 27 departments, offering a real-time lens into how AI could support teaching, research, operations, and community engagement. Each project contributed to shaping a more AI-aware, AI-capable campus culture.
Projects focused on:
- Automating workflows and streamlining student services
- Enhancing learning through virtual assistants and personalized support
- Using AI for real-world challenges in health, safety, and accessibility
- Exploring ethical implications and designing responsible AI use cases
Several standout efforts will be recognized at major conferences or have received external funding, validating UCLA’s leadership in the national AI-in-higher-ed dialogue.
The initiative also surfaced key findings around collaboration, scalability, and the importance of digital fluency, reinforcing the need to develop AI-ready leaders across all campus roles.
As one project participant said, “The community is interested in ongoing discussions and learning from each other as we navigate the rapidly changing landscape of AI tools and applications.”
Looking Ahead
While the formal AI Innovation Initiative concluded in June 2025, the work continues. UCLA is now:
- Exploring opportunities to operationalize successful prototypes with support from DTS and IT governance
- Expanding AI tool access to support broader instructional and research needs
- Continuing AI fluency programming to build AI literacy as a lasting skill
- Strengthening responsible use practices through informed governance
This initiative was not just about pilots; it was about shaping a sustainable, thoughtful approach to AI that is responsive to UCLA’s mission and values. It modeled how institutions can lead with integrity, curiosity, and care in the age of intelligent systems.
Through this work, UCLA DTS reaffirmed its role as a strategic, trusted partner and a higher education leader in AI exploration.
Learn More
Explore how UCLA is building the next generation of AI-ready leaders and systems by visiting our AI Innovation Initiative page.
Learn more or explore collaboration opportunities with UCLA Digital & Technology Solutions.
