LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Gatton College of Business and Economics is taking a proactive, people-first approach to artificial intelligence, integrating AI across teaching, research and operations to prepare students, faculty and staff for a rapidly changing business landscape.
Rather than treating AI as a niche topic or future concern, Gatton has embraced it as a present-day tool to amplify human talent. “It is our people that make Gatton great,” said Taylor Begley, chair of Gatton’s AI Committee. “AI should amplify human capability, not replace it. Our goal is to give our community the tools, training and ethical guardrails they need to innovate responsibly and advance Kentucky.”
This philosophy aligns with the University of Kentucky’s broader UK ADVANCE initiative, while allowing Gatton to tailor AI adoption to the realities of business education. The result is a coordinated, college-wide strategy that emphasizes practical application, ethical use and workforce readiness.
At the center of Gatton’s AI efforts is the Gatton AI Committee, which serves as the bridge between vision and execution. The committee focuses on three priorities: training and support, clear policy guidance and shared infrastructure that allows innovation to scale. Committee members include Taylor Begley (chair), Chris Bundy, Matt Cosgrove, Shane Hadden, and Gail Hoyt.
One outcome of this work is the AI@Gatton Resource Hub, a centralized platform that provides access to approved tools, curated training resources, consultations and clear policy guidance grounded in university, state and federal regulations. The hub also houses a growing library of real-world use cases, allowing individual faculty and staff experiments to become shared learning across the college.
“Faculty and staff are closest to real problems and best positioned to innovate,” Begley said. “Our role is to lower barriers, reduce uncertainty and help turn isolated successes into collective momentum.”
AI exposure at Gatton is intentionally woven throughout the student experience rather than confined to a single course. In the MBA program, students can access curated generative AI learning tracks tailored to business disciplines such as marketing, finance, human resources, and product management. Across programs, faculty are integrating AI into coursework for research, analysis, simulations, and applied problem-solving.
Some classes are also piloting tools such as Yoodli.ai, which allows them to practice presentations or job interviews with AI-driven avatars that provide real-time feedback on pacing, clarity, tone, and verbal habits. The tool offers personalized, low-stakes coaching that would be difficult to provide at scale through traditional means.
“These tools allow students to build confidence and skills through repetition,” Begley said. “Just as importantly, they learn how to work with AI as a developmental partner, something they’ll do throughout their careers.”
Responsible use is embedded across all touchpoints. Faculty model ethical AI use in the classroom, syllabi include clear guidance, and students are taught that accountability for outputs always rests with the human user.
“We want our students to graduate ready for the world they’re walking into,” said Dean Simon Sheather. “That means understanding AI, using it responsibly, and knowing how to think critically about what it produces. This is an exciting moment for Gatton, and I’m proud of how our faculty and staff are leading the way.”
Recognizing that AI adoption can feel overwhelming, Gatton has invested heavily in faculty and staff support. The AI Committee offers in-person workshops, one-on-one consultations, curated training materials and access guidance for vetted tools. A policy chatbot allows users to query compliance and governance documents directly, receiving clear answers with citations.
The goal, Begley said, is to create a culture where innovation feels encouraged, not risky, because expectations and boundaries are clear.
Gatton’s approach emphasizes adaptability over mastery of any single tool. “The graduates who thrive won’t be the ones who memorized a platform,” Begley said. “They’ll be the ones who remain curious, adaptable, and thoughtful about how technology creates value.”
Industry input plays a key role in shaping this work. Gatton leaders regularly engage with employers, alumni and advisory councils to understand how AI is reshaping organizations and what skills graduates need to contribute immediately.
Looking ahead, Gatton plans to expand student-facing AI programming, including a lecture series focused on AI fundamentals and real-world business applications. The long-term vision is for Gatton to be recognized as a model for how business schools can move quickly and responsibly, producing AI-literate leaders, empowering faculty innovation and serving as a resource for Kentucky.
“In a few years,” Begley said, “I want people to say that Gatton demonstrated how to integrate AI in ways that amplify human talent and create real value for our students, our organizations and our state.”
