UI partners with Google to give students AI tools
The University of Idaho is partnering with Google to give students free access to the company’s artificial intelligence tools that the school believes will help prepare students for future careers.
Students now have access to Google AI tools, AI training and Google Career Certificates because of this partnership.
“AI is woven into each of our goals for the rest of the decade — from how we teach and learn to how we conduct research and serve Idaho,” UI President Scott Green said in a statement Thursday. “Giving Vandals early access to Google’s most advanced AI tools helps them lead that change, not just adapt to it.”
Dan Ewart, UI vice president for information technology, told the Moscow-Pullman Daily News this partnership is free to the university and the students.
According to a UI news release, Google Career Certificates are industry-recognized credentials that help students enter careers like cybersecurity, data analytics and IT support.
Google’s AI training teaches students how to use artificial intelligence. It can also be used to help them create study guides, build resumes and practice for job interviews.
Google also offers tools like Gemini and NotebookLM that help students organize information, summarize materials and prepare presentations.
Ewart said there is always concern that students will use AI tools to cheat on their schoolwork, which is why the university has policies requiring academic honesty and the presentation of original work. Ewart said UI feels those policies are sufficient in this case, and it also provides guidance on how to use AI ethically.
Ewart said UI hopes using AI will prepare students for the jobs of the future. He said AI is everywhere in society and it will change what careers are available tomorrow.
He said students can use AI as a tool to solve problems, and this partnership with Google allows students a free way to get acclimated to the technology.