Opinion: How the University of Alaska Anchorage is helping shape the state’s AI future

In Alaska, innovation and ingenuity are not just ideals; they are cornerstones of what makes thriving in the Last Frontier possible. With artificial intelligence shifting from science-fiction stories to daily reality, we are standing on the edge of a technology transition that will shape future generations to come. As an institution of higher learning, the University of Alaska Anchorage is not only equipping students across all disciplines with the tools to integrate AI into their daily lives and careers but also leading research and training professionals who will guide our communities through this new era with purpose and responsibility. While AI technology, such as machine learning, has been around for decades, mainstream applications like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Microsoft Copilot have made generative AI more accessible. At UAA, thoughtfully integrating AI into teaching, research and operations ensures that we are preparing our students, faculty and staff to work responsibly, ethically and strategically with this technology. As a university, we have the unique opportunity not only to integrate AI into our academic spaces but also to explore this new frontier through research that will bolster our state’s major industries, from oil and gas to healthcare, and empower our community with training and service activities. Our work at UAA will amplify our workforce’s capabilities by supporting local jobs to enhance and accelerate our economic growth. Part of this work includes building a strong foundation of AI frameworks into university programs and research, as well as providing community resources. UAA is the only institution in the state offering academic programs with an AI emphasis; these are the undergraduate Business and Data Analytics (BBA) degree and the graduate Artificial Intelligence, Data Science & Engineering (MS) degree as well as coursework in Computer & Networking Technology and Education. Our research and public service activities include, but are not limited to, an Alaska Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab, two National Science Foundation grants that focus on expanding AI capacity in Alaska and at emerging research institutions, and the AI Resource Center hosted within the Small Business Development Center, where we help small businesses across Alaska shape their operations to achieve greater efficiency. UAA’s work over the last decade has centered us as leaders in this emerging space. Through our academic, research and business offerings, we have become a valued and trusted community partner in helping Alaskans navigate AI. Within the university, we have launched AI@UAA, an initiative that is part of our new Leveraging Innovative Frameworks and Technologies Center. This initiative will ensure coordinated and thoughtful implementation across all our campuses and will continue to shape how UAA assists students, faculty and staff to develop the AI literacy skills and tools necessary for success in the years ahead. While AI continues to evolve and its presence becomes more integrated into our daily lives, UAA is committed to enabling people to harness AI’s full potential for our state — strengthening key industries, expanding our workforce and empowering the next generation of Alaska’s leaders. Our state was built by those with relentless optimism of the new frontier, and today AI offers the same vast landscape with limitless possibilities and opportunities. We invite you to join us on the Anchorage campus Sept. 25-27 for the second annual University of Alaska System Statewide AI Symposium, a three-day event about how AI is shaping Alaska’s workforce, education system and economic development. Register for this event to learn more about how UAA is ensuring that Alaskans are not merely adapting to the future of AI, but leading it. Aaron Dotson is vice chancellor for Research, Innovation and Economic Development at the University of Alaska Anchorage. The Anchorage Daily News welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a piece for consideration, email commentary(at)adn.com. Send submissions shorter than 200 words to letters@adn.com or click here to submit via any web browser. Read our full guidelines for letters and commentaries here. [Read Full Story on Adn →](https://www.adn.com/opinions/2026/09/10/opinion-how-the-university-of-alaska-anchorage-is-helping-shape-the-states-ai-future/)