This story was reported by NPR Illinois on April 8, 2025.

"AI is at the forefront and is making its way into our everyday lives. During the March 2025 Lunch and Learn Series, Dr. Hei-Chi Chan, UIS associate professor of mathematical sciences and philosophy and co-founder of the university’s AI Campus Learning Community, gave a presentation on the evolution of AI, the university's AI Campus Learning Community, how students can make the best use of AI, and the future of AI in our society. UIS is offering a camp on AI this summer."

The University of Illinois Springfield hosted the “Day of AI” on Friday, April 4, a half-day event designed to introduce regional high school students to artificial intelligence concepts, career pathways and real-world applications. The free event was organized by the UIS AI Campus Learning Community and the UIS College of Health, Science and Technology.

The University of Illinois Springfield has named Yanhui Guo, associate professor of computer science, as the recipient of the Louise Hartman Schewe and Karl Schewe Professorship in the College of Health, Science and Technology (CHST). The professorship will support Guo’s efforts to apply artificial intelligence to improve education through research, innovation and community collaboration.

This newsletter covers the latest in AI news, tools, and learning resources. Highlights include DeepSeek’s global impact, the new ai.txt permission tool, and educational resources from Georgetown and Oxford. Upcoming events focus on AI in education, including workshops and the Day of AI. New tools like DeepSeek-V3, Deepinfra, and Deepchat are also featured. Readers are invited to share their AI use cases and prompt examples to inspire innovation and support the AI community.

This newsletter highlights recent advancements and initiatives in artificial intelligence (AI) within academia and industry. Key stories include Google’s $1 million donation to the University of Illinois Chicago to train undergraduates in AI, and the University of Michigan’s development of proprietary generative AI tools. Articles explore AI’s impact on workers, creative effectiveness, and the evolving role of AI in higher education. A featured teaching resource, Teaching with AI by Jose Antonio Bowen and C. Edward Watson, provides insights into integrating AI into classrooms. Additionally, the newsletter covers AI initiatives at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) and promotes upcoming AI events, such as a webinar on AI’s role in commencement and alumni engagement.

A recent study conducted by finance professors at the University of Illinois Springfield explores the accuracy and reliability of financial advice provided by ChatGPT, the popular artificial intelligence-powered chatbot. The study, titled “ChatGPT, Help!