Written by an award-winning engineer, "Fuzzy Logic: Applications in Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, and Machine Learning" is a hands-on guide that provides clear explanations of fuzzy logic, complemented by practical applications and real-world examples. Aimed at enhancing competence and motivation among students and professionals, this book offers valuable insights into the realm of fuzzy logic. Authored by Professor Lefteri Tsoukalas, who holds a position as a professor of nuclear engineering at Purdue University, it benefits from his extensive expertise. Tsoukalas is not only the principal investigator of Purdue University's Artificial Intelligence Systems Lab but also contributes significantly to the Center for Education and Research in Information Assurance and Security. Furthermore, his distinguished career includes fellowships with the American Nuclear Society and advisory roles with esteemed organizations such as the United States Department of Energy and the International Atomic Energy Agency. Tsoukalas' research endeavors, spanning neurofuzzy methodologies for complex power systems modeling and energy policy, underscore his profound contributions to the field.

Purdue Global introduces the Purdue Global Learning Assistant (PGLA), an AI-powered tool accessible via the Brightspace learning management system (LMS) in selected courses (CM107, MT140, CJ100, and ED720) for the 2401C term, aimed at enhancing student learning experiences. This initial version, PGLA 1.0, focuses on basic course administration queries, including course navigation and late work policies, offering 24/7 support to students. The implementation of PGLA is contingent on successful testing, with comprehensive evaluations planned post-launch to assess its impact on students and faculty. Future updates will expand the PGLA's capabilities, and faculty will be provided with training and feedback mechanisms once the system is operational.

Purdue Global has launched a new self-paced microcredential course titled "Writing for Life: Leveraging AI and Other Digital Writing Tools." This course, offered free of charge, focuses on enhancing writing skills using AI and digital tools for academic and professional purposes. It is part of Purdue Global's response to the growing influence of AI in education and the increasing demand for AI-related skills in the job market. The course comprises eight modules and aligns with the university's 'Writing Across the Curriculum' initiative, emphasizing the importance of strong writing skills in today's digital age. 

Purdue University has introduced an AI-driven teaching assistant named Arthur to aid learning in an Engineering Economics course. Developed by Professors Hua Cai, Erham Karakaya, and graduate student Zhuoli Yin, Arthur provides immediate feedback to students, reducing their reliance on instructor availability. Trained on past graded homework, Arthur helps identify and correct student errors. Continuous improvements have been made to Arthur based on student feedback, enhancing its grading and feedback capabilities. Students have shown a preference for more AI TA integration, and those utilizing it have reportedly performed better in the course. The positive impact suggests potential for extending Arthur's application to other advanced math and STEM courses at Purdue. 

At the Educause conference in Chicago, AI was a focal point, contrasting with the previous year's zero AI-centric sessions. The discourse encompassed both optimism and concerns. While AI’s pervasiveness in education was acknowledged, experts like Heath Price and Mark Sonstein emphasized that the technology is in its nascent stages and urged for experimentation. Concerns included potential for biased decision-making, misinformation, and cybersecurity threats. Some institutions, like Purdue, showcased practical AI applications. The discussions underlined the necessity of cautious AI integration in education, while also emphasizing its potential to significantly impact the educational landscape. 

ChatGPT has introduced new voice and image capabilities, enriching the user experience. These functionalities allow users to voice chat, present visual references, and engage more interactively. Whether capturing a landmark photo for insights, seeking meal suggestions from pantry images, or kids needing help with math assignments through photographed problems, ChatGPT assists in diverse scenarios. These enhancements are now accessible to Plus and Enterprise users. The voice feature will be accessible on iOS and Android platforms (users can opt-in through their settings), while image capabilities are supported across all platforms. 

OpenAI, with Microsoft's backing, has announced that ChatGPT can now browse the internet to offer users up-to-date information, a significant departure from its previous data limitation up to September 2021. Premium users will soon be able to inquire about current affairs and access news through the chatbot. OpenAI plans to roll out this feature to all users in the near future. Additionally, the article notes that ChatGPT will soon enable voice conversations, marking a major transformation in how people seek information online while also highlighting the challenges of balancing usefulness with potential misuse in the AI sector.

The article discusses how artificial intelligence tools, particularly ChatGPT, can be leveraged to enhance one's professional career. Sarah Hoffman, VP of AI and machine learning research at Fidelity Investments, highlights the potential of using ChatGPT in professional contexts, emphasizing that those who can effectively integrate it into their work processes are likely to excel in their careers. ChatGPT can improve productivity and efficiency by rapidly generating templates for various tasks, such as presentations or reports, allowing users to focus on editing and refinement. It is also valuable as a brainstorming partner, providing creative ideas and inspiration. Additionally, AI tools like ChatGPT offer a judgment-free space for asking questions and seeking explanations, reducing the fear of judgment when seeking help in a workplace or educational setting.

In their latest newsletter AI x Education explores the implementation of AI policies in classrooms to harness the potential of artificial intelligence in education. It discusses the importance of clear expectations for students and educators regarding AI use and responsible technology integration. The newsletter provides practical AI policy ideas, creative ways to enhance learning through AI, and highlights a student hackathon to gather insights into AI usage. It also shares valuable resources, including academic policy guidelines, syllabus resources, and insights from the U.S. Department of Education. Additionally, it presents the latest research in AI and education, focusing on the implications of ChatGPT and the challenges of deepfakes. Lastly, the newsletter covers news stories about AI policies in schools and innovative uses of AI in the classroom.

The AI Task Force and AI Exploratory Group, under CIO Tim Werth, are expanding their evaluation of advanced technologies for the institution, focusing on Generative AI's impact on education. Led by Samuel Weber, the Task Force aims to deliver innovative technology experiences for students. They are also working with IT and PG Staff to deploy the PG Learning Assistant, an AI chatbot that will offer basic information and evolve into more sophisticated conversational interfaces. Additionally, Purdue Global is participating in Google's NotebookLM evaluation and investing in Duet AI in Workspace for a 50-person pilot to enhance productivity and connections across tools, all while ensuring a responsible implementation of AI technology.

Purdue Global, an online university for working adults, is pioneering the integration of generative artificial intelligence (AI) into higher education, with a particular focus on its applications in classrooms. Faculty member Stuart Collins recently employed OpenAI's ChatGPT during a discussion on 2023's debt ceiling negotiations in his American government and civics courses, showcasing AI's potential in education. Purdue Global has established an AI Task Force to explore the creative use of AI in education and is working on resources and guidelines to promote responsible AI use. Students, such as Austin Lawton, have found generative AI programs like ChatGPT beneficial for streamlining information and augmenting their learning experience, despite concerns about accuracy and control in AI-generated content.

Three scholars, Corey Robin, Ted Underwood, and Eleanor Courtemanche, explore the implications of ChatGPT in education. In "How ChatGPT Changed My Plans for the Fall," Corey Robin revises his view on AI's capabilities, as his daughter successfully uses ChatGPT for an essay. Robin decides to focus on in-class assignments due to ChatGPT's advanced abilities, reflecting on the essence of writing to order thoughts. Eleanor Courtemanche discusses the academic integrity crisis posed by AI-generated content, emphasizing the absence of accountability for AI-written words and the need for responsible authorship. Ted Underwood contemplates the potential meta-cognitive development of ChatGPT and explores the necessity for educators to adapt their teaching approaches to foster critical thinking beyond AI simulation, raising concerns about the added labor on faculty. The scholars call for collaborative efforts between administrators, faculty, and unions to address the ethical and labor-related challenges brought by AI in education.

Purdue University's IT department has introduced a new Ivy.ai chatbot alongside its customer service portal, TeamDynamix (TDX), to swiftly connect users with valuable IT resources. The chatbot, named the Purdue Virtual Assistant or Ivy, scours both the TDX knowledgebase and various Purdue IT web pages to offer rapid solutions without requiring direct support agent involvement. Accessible through a speech bubble icon on the Purdue IT website, Ivy employs AI to provide answers based on user queries and information from the university's resources. Although Ivy cannot currently link users to live agents, it can supply relevant contact numbers or aid in submitting IT support tickets. Ivy's AI-driven capabilities are refined through user feedback, aiming to enhance its response accuracy over time. In a real-world test during a student return week, Ivy achieved a 73 percent "high confidence" response rate out of 226 chats.

In this video from the MLA-CCCC Joint Task Force, the intricate landscape of generative AI's impact on writing, literature, and language education is examined, exploring the potential advantages and pitfalls for both educators and students. The discussion centers on offering principle-based guidance for collaborative efforts among teachers, administrators, and policy makers. By emphasizing the importance of ethical considerations and aligning AI integration with educational missions, the video advocates for fostering comprehensive AI literacy. It encourages viewers to contribute their insights to the ongoing discourse, highlighting this as the first step in a series of working papers that will evolve based on feedback and evolving priorities.

This working paper discusses the risks and benefits of generative AI for teachers and students in writing, literature, and language programs and makes principle-driven recommendations for how educators, administrators, and policy makers can work together to develop ethical, mission-driven policies and support broad development of critical AI literacy. 

Comments on the working paper are welcome in order to help inform the task force’s ongoing activities. The group intends for this to be the first of subsequent working papers that will be developed as the task force receives feedback and identifies priorities in the coming year. 

The U.S. Department of Education Office of Educational Technology’s new policy report, Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Teaching and Learning: Insights and Recommendations, addresses the clear need for sharing knowledge, engaging educators, and refining technology plans and policies for artificial intelligence (AI) use in education. The report describes AI as a rapidly-advancing set of technologies for recognizing patterns in data and automating actions, and guides educators in understanding what these emerging technologies can do to advance educational goals—while evaluating and limiting key risks.