Professor and Chair of the Department of Communication and Digital Studies Anand Rao gave an invited presentation titled “AI and the Humanities: Through the Lens of AI Pluralism” at the Ai4 conference in Las Vegas this month. Ai4 is one of the largest AI conferences in the country with more than 12,000 attendees. Rao’s presentation focused on how higher ed, and in particular the humanities and liberal arts, can not only adapt to the challenges presented by AI, but also help lead the development of aligned and responsible AI in the future. Rao’s presentation was one of just eight presentations included on the education track.

Professor and Chair of the Department of Communication and Digital Studies Anand Rao presented “Building Chatbots for AI Literacy” at the AI Ready RVA Teacher & AI Summer Workshop in Richmond. The two-day event brought together educators focused on integrating artificial intelligence into classrooms in responsible and engaging ways. Rao shared insights from his work with Playlab AI and praised the workshop for its commitment to supporting teacher development.

Featured speakers and panelists at the Chamber’s AI in the Workplace workshop, including UMW’s Anand Rao

Professor and Chair of the Department of Communication and Digital Studies Anand Rao was a recently a panelist at the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Congress’s workshop titled “AI in the Workplace,” which explored both the promise and practical applications of this evolving technology. Key topics included skills workers should develop to stay relevant, how small businesses can get started with AI and how they can empower their workforce to use it. Read more.

Rao Speaking About AI Pluralism on the TechUnhinged podcast.

Professor and Chair of the Department of Communication and Digital Studies Anand Rao was featured on the TechUnhinged podcast in an episode exploring the future of artificial intelligence (AI). Drawing from his background in communication, debate and education, Rao discussed “AI Pluralism” – a concept advocating for diverse, dialogic AI systems over singular, dominant models. The episode also highlights UMW’s contributions to this emerging field, including Rao’s forthcoming book and the Center for AI and Liberal Arts. Listen to the podcast here.

Other recent media mentions for Rao include:

Professor of Communication Anand Rao

Professor of Communication in the Department of Communication and Digital Studies, Anand Rao, has been selected to serve on the National Communication Association’s (NCA) Collaboratory on Artificial Intelligence, a groundbreaking initiative that brings together educators, scholars, and communication professionals to address the rapidly evolving impact of AI in higher education. As part of the collaborative team, Dr. Rao will participate in the inaugural NCAi Collaboratory session at the NCA Convention on November 22, which aims to develop community-driven responses to AI integration in communication pedagogy, research, and assessment. The session will feature breakout discussions where communication scholars and faculty can explore various topics related to AI’s impact on the field. Dr. Rao will lead a focused discussion on AI Chatbots in Communication.

The Collaboratory, supported by the Teaching and Learning Council and highlighted as one of First Vice President Dr. Jeanetta Sims’ Spotlight Panels, focuses on leveraging human intelligence and creativity alongside artificial intelligence. This initiative will establish ongoing collaborative structures to foster community resources and facilitate crucial discussions about AI’s role in communication education. For more information about the Collaboratory and to access AI resources, visit: https://www.natcom.org/spectra/ncai-collaboratory-and-generative-ai-resources