Falling into AI 2026
About this Event
Falling into AI is One KU's premier three-day AI summit exploring the opportunities, challenges, and future impact of artificial intelligence across higher education, healthcare, research, and the workforce.
This summit brings together educators, students, researchers, healthcare professionals, community partners, and industry leaders from across the KU campus and the KU Medical Center to discuss how AI is transforming education, research, healthcare, and the future of work.
The summit opens on Tuesday, September 22, at the KU campus in Lawrence with keynote presentations from Zac Chase (Google) and Mary Strain (Amazon Web Services), followed by a panel discussion and concurrent breakout sessions organized into research, education, and student-focused tracks. The afternoon concludes with open lab tours and showcases of student organizations and research centers, including FLITE, CIDDL, and Project RAISE.
Due to limited seating, attendees must register for the Open Lab Tours and the specific sessions they plan to attend on Tuesday, September 22. Attendees will be asked to select their preferred tours at checkout. No session registration is required for Thursday, September 24. Attendees are welcome to attend the One KU AI Showcase activities throughout the day.
On Wednesday, September 23, the summit moves to the KU Medical Center to explore the role of artificial intelligence in healthcare, clinical innovation, and research. Through faculty talks, student research showcases, presentations highlighting AI initiatives across KU, interactive labs, and community partner discussions, attendees will learn how AI is influencing healthcare and medical research across the KU community. This day is invite-only with KUMC IDs required.
Thursday, September 24, brings together the Lawrence and KUMC campuses for the One KU AI Showcase in Lawrence, featuring lightning talks with industry leaders, vendor and community showcases, networking opportunities, and interractive presentations highlighting collaborative research and innovation happening across KU and KUMC. Industry and community partners will have opportunities to connect directly with faculty, researchers, students, and healthcare professionals from across the university.
Throughout the week, attendees will have opportunities to hear from industry leaders, participate in breakout sessions, engage with researchers, visit vendor and community showcases, connect with employers and industry partners, and explore both the opportunities and challenges associated with the adoption of AI. Whether you're excited about AI, curious to learn more, or skeptical about what its impact means for you and your profession, Falling into AI offers a space to learn, ask questions, and connect with others.
Tuesday, September 22
🕑: 08:30 AM - 09:00 AM
Registration & Networking
🕑: 09:00 AM - 09:45 AM
Keynote: Zac Chase from Google
Info: Zac Chase is the Global Lead for Scaled Programming at Google for Education, who previously led development of the U.S. National Education Technology Plan at the Department of Education.
🕑: 09:45 AM - 10:45 AM
Keynote: Mary Strain from Amazon Web Services
Info: Mary Strain leads AI and machine learning strategy for U.S. education at Amazon Web Services and began her career teaching middle school in the Bronx.
🕑: 10:45 AM - 11:30 AM
Panel Discussions
Info: Hear directly from industry leaders as they discuss emerging trends, opportunities, and challenges shaping the future of education, research, healthcare, and work. Bring your questions and join the conversation.
🕑: 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Collaboration Break and Lunch
🕑: 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM
Session 1 - AWS (Big 12 Room)
Info: Amazon's cloud division and a leading provider of AI and machine-learning infrastructure .
🕑: 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM
Session 3 - Apple & KUMC (The Jay)
Info: Apple discusses its technology and innovations for supporting teaching, learning, and accessibility. This session is invite only and attendees must show their KUMC IDs.
🕑: 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM
Session 2 - CIDDL (Jayhawk Room)
Info: The Center for Innovation, Design, and Digital Learning, focused on technology in educator preparation.
🕑: 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM
Session 4 - KU Finance (English Room)
Info: KU's financial operations team discusses the opportunities, challenges, and future of AI in finance.
🕑: 12:55 PM - 01:40 PM
Session 5 - Google (Big 12 Room)
Info: Google's education and AI teams, including Gemini experts, will showcase how AI is transforming education and research.
🕑: 12:55 PM - 01:40 PM
Session 6 - AWS (Jayhawk Room)
Info: Amazon's cloud division and a leading provider of AI and machine-learning infrastructure.
🕑: 12:55 PM - 01:40 PM
Session 7 - Mosher Agents (The Jay)
Info: A KU special education researcher whose work includes virtual reality, AI tools, and Agentic AI to support students with disabilities.
🕑: 12:55 PM - 01:40 PM
Session 8 - I2S (English room)
🕑: 01:55 PM - 02:50 PM
Session 9 - CTE with Doug Ward (Big 12 Room)
Info: Associate director of KU's Center for Teaching Excellence and an associate professor of journalism.
🕑: 01:55 PM - 02:50 PM
Session 10 - AI & the KS Economy with Donna Ginther (The Jay)
Info: Roy A. Roberts & Regents Distinguished Professor of Economics and director of KU's Institute for Policy & Social Research, and a National Bureau of Economic Research associate.
🕑: 01:55 PM - 02:50 PM
Session 11 - TBD (English Room)
🕑: 03:00 PM - 05:00 PM
Open Lab Tours (Across Campus)
Info: Learn about the research and development in AI from lead researchers at KU throughout campus. Registration is required for Open Lab Tours. Attendees will be asked to select their preferred tours at checkout.
🕑: 03:00 PM - 05:00 PM
Institute for Information Sciences (I2S) Open Lab
Info: Building : Nichols Hall | Address: 2335 Irving Hill Rd, Lawrence, KS 66045 | Website: https://i2s-research.ku.edu/
🕑: 03:00 PM - 05:00 PM
FLITE Open Lab
Info: Building: Joseph R. Pearson Hall | Address: Joseph R. Pearson Hall, 1122 W Campus Rd, Lawrence, KS 66045 | Website: https://flite.ku.edu/
🕑: 03:00 PM - 05:00 PM
Center for Innovation, Design, and Digital Learning (CIDDL) Open Lab
Info: Building: Joseph R. Pearson Hall | Address: Joseph R. Pearson Hall, 1122 W Campus Rd, Lawrence, KS 66045 | Website: https://ciddl.org/
🕑: 03:00 PM - 05:00 PM
Achievement & Assessment Institute (AAI) Open Lab
Info: Building: Joseph R. Pearson Hall | Address: 1515 St Andrews Dr, Lawrence, KS 66047 | Website: https://aai.ku.edu/
🕑: 03:00 PM - 05:00 PM
Kansas University Center on Disabilities (KUCD) Open Lab
Info: Building: Joseph R. Pearson Hall | Address: Joseph R. Pearson Hall, 1122 W Campus Rd, Lawrence, KS 66045 | Website: https://kucd.ku.edu/
Wednesday, September 23
🕑: 08:00 AM - 09:00 AM
Networking Breakfast
🕑: 09:00 AM - 10:00 AM
AI Across KU Showcase
🕑: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Faculty Innovation Talks
🕑: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Students Research Showcase
🕑: 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM
Lunch
🕑: 01:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Interactive Labs
🕑: 03:00 PM - 05:00 PM
Community Partner Discussions
Thursday, September 24
🕑: 08:30 AM - 03:00 PM
Lightning Talk - Woodruff Auditorium
Info: A series of short presentations from industry leaders, community organizations, faculty, and researchers from across KU and KUMC. Featured presenters include: AWS (8:30 AM), Google (9:00 AM), KC AI Club (9:30 AM & 10:00 AM), Doug Hohulin (10:30 AM), Garmin (11:00 AM), Dell (12:00 PM), Amber Rowland (12:30 PM), Sean Smith (1:00 PM), Rick Ginsberg (1:30 PM), CIDDL (2:00 PM), IPSR with Whitney Onasch (2:30 PM). Lightning talks are structured as 30-minute sessions featuring a 15-minute presentation, a 10-minute Q&A, and a 5-minute transition between speakers. Attendees are welcome to attend individual presentations or stay for the full series. No session registration is required for Thursday, September 24. Attendees are welcome to attend Lightning Talks throughout the day.
🕑: 08:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Vendor & Community Showcases
🕑: 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Lunch (On your own)
🕑: 12:00 PM - 03:00 PM
KU & KUMC Showcases
Info: Discover showcases across KU campus featuring AI research, projects, and innovations from faculty, research centers, and programs across KU and KUMC, including the Center for Innovation, Design & Digital Learning (CIDDL), the Center for Flexible Learning through Innovations in Technology & Education (FLITE), the Institute for Information Sciences (I2S), the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE), and the Institute for Policy & Social Research (IPSR).
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00
