Workshop to help researchers unlock AI potential
The time to talk about the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in research is now, according to Alberto Cano.
“In the case of AI, we really want to be intentional in moving fast and providing solutions,” said Cano, associate vice president for research computing. “What we cannot do is be years late when we know that there are problems that need solutions today.”
Cano is one of almost a dozen Virginia Tech AI, cybersecurity, and ethical research experts who will share their insights as part of the Unlocking the Power of AI in Research workshop from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27, at The Inn at Virginia Tech. Hosted by the Office of Research and Innovation and the Division of Information Technology, the event will feature speakers and roundtable discussions aimed to empower faculty to harness AI to enhance research productivity and amplify results in a safe and effective manner.
“Artificial intelligence is not just another tool — it is reshaping how research is conceived, conducted, accessed, and translated into impact,” said Dan Sui, senior vice president and chief research and innovation officer. “It accelerates discovery, enables entirely new forms of data-driven science, and transforms how scholars collaborate across disciplines. Our goal is to ensure that Virginia Tech faculty are not only using AI productively and responsibly, but also leading in harnessing it to address the most complex challenges facing society.”
Speakers will introduce ways AI can support various stages of research, from finding funding to developing research proposals to executing research programs, and provide practical examples across a variety of disciplines. They will also provide guidance about high-risk actions and data considerations to help promote ethical and compliant use. Speakers during the morning sessions will be recorded and made available in the future.
“Friday’s workshop will advance our understanding of the priorities and the possibilities for utilizing AI as a springboard to greater discovery,” said Sharon P. Pitt, vice president for information technology and chief information officer.
In addition, the roundtable discussions will provide attendees the opportunity to interact with pressing topics ranging from AI agents and prompt engineering to proper documentation methods and how to reproduce AI-augmented work.
Cano said the workshop will not only help faculty better understand the appropriate use of publicly-available AI services but also the in-house tools offered by Virginia Tech’s Advanced Research Computing, which last fall introduced a new suite of large language model services available to all students, faculty, and staff.
“Because we are running those in house, we have the guarantee that whatever the prompt, whatever the data, what you are sharing is going to stay within our premises,” said Cano, who is also an associate professor of computer science. “We are providing this as a core service to the university.”
