Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) has taken the world by storm. While it may have mixed reviews, one thing’s for sure: competence is key.
Daemen has been at the forefront of the AI movement, establishing an AI Tiger Team of faculty and staff to focus on AI use by faculty and students and establishing platform policies to ensure clear guidelines and ethical practices across the institution.
Mark Warren, chair of the department of philosophy, languages, and religious studies and co-chair of the AI Tiger Team, created first-year seminar modules to provide AI fundamentals for students. “It’s important for all students to understand what AI is and how it’s trained,” he said. “The fact that AI systems hallucinate is not a glitch. It’s intrinsic to their architecture.”
Daemen launched a pilot program across all three colleges in spring 2026. Six faculty members deployed two AI-centered assignments in their curriculum with clear syllabus language to guide students on effective use of the platform. “This is a seed we’re planting among faculty so they can explore the impacts of AI in the classroom,” Warren said.
Daemen is also working to implement an effective institution-wide AI platform. “We care about equity,” said Warren. “There’s a big difference between paid and unpaid versions and we want everyone to be able to access it. We also want to provide clear institutional guidance in how people use AI.”
While many may think computer skills drive AI competencies, the liberal arts suite of skills, including critical thinking and close reading, are integral in enhancing users’ abilities. “Ethical discernment is critical for effective AI use,” said Elizabeth Wright, associate vice president for academic relations and public affairs and co-chair of the AI Tiger Team. “You will get false answers to your queries. The person receiving the information has to be able to discern and question what they’re seeing, and that’s an important skillset.”
Daemen is in the early stages of exploring AI use in health professions and human sciences. “We are diving deeper into what ethical use looks like, what platforms are appropriate in clinical settings, and how this would impact diagnosis and treatment,” Wright said. “We want to continue to stay on the cutting edge.”
