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Welcome to the AI@Colby site, your dynamic resource for artificial intelligence at Colby College.
Developed through a collaboration among the Academic Technology Services, the Davis Institute for Artificial Intelligence, the Library, the Center for Teaching and Learning, and the Writing Department, this site supports the Colby community in exploring and using AI in human-centered and ethical ways.
Here, you'll find:
Institutional guidelines, available tools, and curated resources for AI.
Upcoming events and the latest AI news from across campus.
Colby College is committed to responsibly using and developing generative artificial intelligence tools. We believe that generative AI has the potential to revolutionize the way we live, work, and learn, and we are excited to use it in ways that benefit teaching, learning, and staff workflows. We are also aware of the risks that generative AI systems may cause. It is our goal to use and develop human-centered generative AI systems that result in fair, relevant, and meaningful learning experiences.
Support
Support
Troubleshooting, access issues, or information security: ITS Support Center or support@colby.edu
Academic setup, operational guidance, or consultation: Academic Technology Services or teched@colby.edu
Advanced academic or research-related support: Davis Institute for Artificial Intelligence or davisai@colby.edu
What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)
What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the branch of computer science focused on making intelligent machines. There is no single, simple definition of AI due to its wide range of capabilities. AI systems can learn from data, reason, make decisions, and have a perception and a form of language comprehension. AI systems leverage a broad range of computational techniques, including machine learning, neural networks, natural language processing, and computer vision.
A Synergistic Ecosystem
The combination of big data, ICT advancements, high-speed computing, and neural networks has created a synergistic ecosystem that drives AI. For example:
Big Data: Enables models to be trained with diverse and representative datasets.
ICT Infrastructure and High-Speed Computing: Facilitates real-time data exchange and processing across networks and reduces the time required for training AI models, enabling rapid experimentation and development.
Neural Networks: Enhance AI's ability to understand and replicate human-like intelligence.
Big Data
AI relies heavily on large volumes of data, often referred to as "big data," which serves as the foundation for training algorithms and improving their performance. The availability of vast, structured, and unstructured datasets, collected from sensors, websites, transactions, and social media, has significantly advanced AI. For instance, models like neural networks learn to recognize patterns and make predictions by analyzing this data.
Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
Rapid advancements in ICT and the development of high-performance or advanced computing have been crucial in enabling modern AI. ICT provides the infrastructure for collecting, transmitting, and storing massive datasets, while fast computers equipped with powerful GPUs and TPUs accelerate the computationally intensive training of AI models. Cloud computing further democratizes access to AI tools, allowing organizations of all sizes to deploy AI applications.
Neural Networks
Serving as the backbone of AI, neural networks – inspired by the structure and functioning of the human brain – are a key component of AI. They consist of layers of interconnected nodes (neurons) that process and transmit information. Deep learning, a subset of machine learning, uses deep neural networks with many layers to solve complex problems such as image recognition, natural language processing, and autonomous driving. These networks excel at identifying intricate patterns and relationships in data, making them highly effective for a wide range of applications.
What is Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI)
What is Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI)
Generative artificial intelligence (GAI) is a type of artificial intelligence that “generates” new content (like text, images, or music) based on patterns learned from vast amounts of training data. It uses algorithms to generate outputs that resemble the original data but are new and unique, often mimicking human creativity.
A Large Language Model (LLM) is an advanced type of artificial intelligence based on complex statistical models originally designed for machine transcription and translation. LLMs are “trained” on vast amounts of data to enable them to predict a probable sequence of words in response to a prompt and produce coherent, contextually-relevant responses.
LLMs and generative AI are closely related because LLMs are a specific type of generative AI. Essentially, LLMs are the language-focused subset of generative AI, utilizing large datasets to generate relevant and contextually appropriate text responses.
Latest Events and Opportunities
Latest Events and Opportunities
CTL: Assignment “Makeovers” in the Age of AI (Workshop)
As semester winds to a close, many instructors are reflecting on their assignments in response to the capacities and limitations of generative AI. This reprise of the Fall 2025 CTL workshop supports faculty in identifying their own values and pedagogical principles as they think about the role of AI in their future courses, and in revising one or more course assignments. Repeat attendees welcome. Bring a device to access your assignment(s). Register here
Snacks provided
Dates, Times
Thursday, May 7, 2:30-4p.m.
Tuesday, May 12, 2:30-4p.m.
Location: TBD
Facilitators: Jordan Troisi (CTL) and Eric Aaron (Computer Science)
Sponsor: Center for Teaching & Learning
For questions contact: Jordan Troisi (jdtroisi@colby.edu)
[DavisAI] Partner with DavisAI to Bring Expert Speakers to Campus
The Davis Institute for Artificial Intelligence (DavisAI) is looking for motivated student researchers to join our interdisciplinary team. We want students from all academic disciplines to help us bridge the gap between technical expertise and real-world innovation.
Applications received by Tuesday, May 12th will be given equal consideration. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis thereafter.
What you’ll do:
Conduct research or build projects tailored to your own interests.
Engage the Colby community and beyond in vital discussions about AI.
Enable engagement with DavisAI external partnerships (locally, nationally, and/or internationally)
Explore diverse topics like:
Deep Learning, NLP, and Computer Vision.
User experience and survey instruments.
Writing opinion pieces on the impact of AI on education and society.
The Details:
Pay: $15.60 per hour.
Commitment: 5–6 hours per week during the academic year.
Who: Open to all years—no prior coding experience required!
Contact: Leslie Lima at davisai@colby.edu
[DavisAI] Partner with DavisAI to Bring Expert Speakers to Campus
The Davis Institute for Artificial Intelligence (DavisAI) is pleased to offer a new opportunity to enhance our campus conversation around the evolving role of AI across all disciplines.
We are offering funding for speaker stipends and expenses for experts you recommend from your fields of interest who have engaged meaningfully with AI. Whether through evening talks, classroom visits, or specialized student-faculty engagements, we want to support the presence of experts who matter to you.
If your speaker is selected, the DavisAI Institute will provide financial support for these engagements.
To submit your speaker suggestions, please complete our DavisAI Speaker Recommendation Form.
Contact: Leslie Lima at davisai@colby.edu
[AI Society] How do AI models “feel”?
Today’s topic: How does the presence of “emotion-related representations” in language language models change how we work with them? It will be helpful, but not necessary, to review this summary of a much larger paper from Anthropic on the topic. Plus, sneak peak of
Who: All students, no AI or CS experience necessary.
What: Weekly low-stakes discussion group.
When: Tuesdays, from 4–5 p.m.
Where: Olin Collaborative Space (the large glass room on the first floor of Olin Science Center).
Why: The AI Society is a weekly student gathering hosted by DavisAI to discuss recent AI developments and studies, share how AI is affecting learning and scholarship across disciplines, and collaborate on projects. Bring your questions and curiosities!
[DavisAI] Interdisciplinary Summer Bridges Program
DavisAI Interdisciplinary Summer Bridges Program is now live on Handshake and accepting applications! It is a paid eight-week program where students can learn AI fundamentals during phase one and turn ideas into practice during phase two.
No coding experience required! All majors & year levels up to juniors are welcomed!
Application Deadline: Monday, March 16, 2026
Contact: DavisAI at davisaiadmin@colby.edu
[DavisAI] Call for work: Journal of Writing With and About AI
The Journal of Writing With and About AI (JWAI), is an annual online journal published by the Davis Institute for Artificial Intelligence at Colby College (DavisAI).
JWAI’s mission is to engage the Colby community in critical AI literacy through creative and scholarly writing. Published by DavisAI, the journal features works that investigate and examine the changing natures of human-machine interactions through experimentation and critical reflection.
Colby College students, staff, and faculty are welcome to submit to our third issue from January 1–May 15, 2026. Submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Find our full submission guidelines, including how to submit, here.
Contact: DavisAI at davisaiadmin@colby.edu
Latest News
Latest News
Colby Meets the AI Moment in 2025
Colby Meets the AI Moment in 2025
In the fast-evolving world of artificial intelligence, 2025 was characterized by a shift from pure experimentation to the scaling of practical, advanced AI systems. At Colby, the Davis Institute for Artificial Intelligence met the moment. Here are highlights of our most popular stories about AI. Learn more
Gemini and NotebookLM are now available for the Colby Community
Gemini and NotebookLM are now available for the Colby Community
Two Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools – Google Gemini and NotebookLM – are available for all faculty, students, and staff using your colby.edu account. Learn more
We're frequently updating new content , and collaboration is always welcomed! If you have any questions, feedback, or corrections regarding the information provided, please contact Academic Technology Services at teched@colby.edu to get in touch.
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