Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how organizations work, learn and solve problems. At UCLA, that transformation is being shaped not only by emerging technologies, but by the creativity, expertise and collaboration of the people putting those tools into practice every day.
To help advance that work, Digital & Technology Solutions (DTS) hosted Summer of AI: Innovation in Practice, bringing together faculty and staff from across campus to explore practical applications of AI, share lessons learned and encourage responsible experimentation.
Led by Samantha Hannam and Eric Levenstein, the event reflected UCLA's broader commitment to building AI fluency across the institution by helping employees better understand the opportunities and responsibilities that accompany this rapidly evolving technology. The photo above shows the hosts and presenters. Back row: Bill Sweeney, Anna Ahearn, Eric Levenstein (host); middle row: Robert Acha, David Kim, Gabriel Mora; front row: Lilian Lin, Priyanka Srivastava, Samantha Hamman (host).
The program opened with an overview of the current AI landscape by Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief Information Officer Lucy Avetisyan, highlighting how higher education institutions are increasingly exploring AI to enhance administration and service delivery. Rather than positioning AI as a replacement for human expertise, presenters emphasized its role as a tool that can reduce routine work, improve decision-making and allow employees to focus more time on complex, mission-driven activities.
Throughout the showcase, UCLA colleagues demonstrated how AI is already being integrated into everyday work across a variety of administrative functions.
Presenters shared examples of using AI to remove friction from routine processes, locate information more efficiently, simplify complex communications, analyze large amounts of
information, build new technical capabilities, automate repetitive workflows, generate visual content and scale organizational impact. While each use case reflected a unique business need, together they demonstrated that AI can support work across many disciplines regardless of technical background, highlighting how cross-functional collaboration and shared learning can accelerate innovation across UCLA.
The event also highlighted that successful AI adoption begins with thoughtful prompting and critical thinking. Attendees were introduced to practical prompting techniques designed to improve the quality of AI-generated responses, reinforcing that effective outcomes depend on providing clear context, defining goals and applying professional judgment to every result.
Equally important was the conversation around responsible AI.
As AI capabilities continue to evolve, UCLA remains committed to ensuring these tools are used ethically, securely and thoughtfully. Presenters encouraged employees to verify AI-generated outputs, protect sensitive and confidential information, recognize the limitations of generative AI and apply human expertise before acting on recommendations. Responsible AI was presented not as a separate activity, but as a foundational practice that should accompany every interaction with these technologies.
The event also underscored UCLA's continued investment in expanding AI literacy across campus. As AI technologies become increasingly integrated into daily work, developing organizational fluency will be essential for empowering employees to evaluate opportunities, make informed decisions and responsibly incorporate AI into their workflows.
Rather than focusing solely on future possibilities, Summer of AI: Innovation in Practice showcased how AI is already delivering value today through practical, incremental improvements driven by UCLA employees. The examples presented illustrated that innovation does not always require large-scale transformation. Small experiments, thoughtful implementation and a willingness to learn can collectively produce meaningful improvements for the university community.
As AI capabilities continue to advance, DTS encourages staff to continue exploring new ways these tools can support their work while remaining grounded in UCLA's values of service, integrity and excellence.
By combining curiosity with responsible use, UCLA is building a future in which AI enhances, not replaces, the expertise, creativity and judgment of the people who make the university exceptional.
Whether you're just beginning to explore AI or already incorporating it into your daily work, now is the time to keep learning, keep experimenting and keep sharing your experiences. Every thoughtful use case helps strengthen UCLA's collective AI capability and advances our mission of education, research and public service.