Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a transformative technology with the potential to revolutionize learning, research, and administrative tasks in higher education. While AI offers significant benefits, it also presents unique challenges and risks that must be carefully evaluated and communicated to our university community.
Our commitment to responsible AI
At Penn State, we are committed to harnessing the power of AI while prioritizing the safety, privacy, and well-being of our students, faculty, and staff. To achieve this balance, we have developed an AI risk assessment process.
The AI Risk Assessment Process:
Our assessment process evaluates AI-enabled software and features according to Penn State’s AI general guidelines. By weighing both the benefits and risks, we ensure a balanced approach to AI adoption across our institution.
This evaluation considers multiple perspectives:
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Security
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Ethics
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Accessibility
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Privacy
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Research protections
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Academic integrity
AI Review Process
To initiate the AI Review process for a new feature in software that Penn State has already licensed, please complete the AI Risk Assessment Questionnaire.
For new tool requests, please complete the Software Request Form.
Key Steps in the Process:
Initiation:
The service manager of the AI-enabled software initiates the assessment.
Evaluation:
The tool will be evaluated to determine the level of risk, which will then dictate the depth of review needed.
Implementation:
If approved, the service manager oversees feature configuration, communications, and follow-up actions.
Transparency and Accountability:
We believe in transparency throughout this process. After each risk assessment is complete, we publish a summary that includes:
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A description of the AI feature
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Key findings from the risk assessment
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Rollout plans and mitigation strategies
Sample AI Risk Assessment Summaries
These summaries serve as a resource for our university community to understand how AI is being implemented at Penn State. We will update these documents as assessments evolve or new information becomes available.
Provided are links to Penn State’s risk assessment of the AI features of a software system that Penn State has already purchased and the decision to release the feature to users. It will be available to the Penn State community, and it may be shared with the vendor, at the service owner’s discretion.
Risk Assessment Process Feedback Form
Share feedback or submit questions about the Penn State AI Risk Assessment Process.
Questions or Feedback