This university built an AI curriculum before ChatGPT. Now it wants to help other schools do the same

Ethan Pecora, a senior at the University of Florida, relies on a team of 15 AI agents to assist with his work, including managing his calendar and tasks for his mental wellness app. The University of Florida has been integrating AI into its curriculum since 2022, long before the arrival of ChatGPT. Thanks to investments from Nvidia, a chipmaking giant, the university aims to teach students how to apply AI across all disciplines professionally and in their coursework.

Currently, the institution offers over 200 AI courses, ranging from AI basics and ethics to specialized courses for fields like hospitality and public health. Joseph Glover, the provost of the University of Florida, emphasizes that AI education should not be confined to the computer science department or engineering college, as it is essential for all students and faculty to understand and utilize AI tools.

Despite the potential benefits, the university faces a debate over AI's impact on education and early-stage careers, with some students pushing back due to concerns about academic misconduct. To address these concerns, the school is hosting an international summit, where it will share its AI curriculum blueprint with other institutions.

Nearly 500 attendees from 10 countries and 40 US states participated in the 2026 conference. Andrea Ramirez Salgado, a professor in the engineering department, believes that AI will eventually become as ubiquitous as the internet, but understanding its underlying technology is crucial for driving innovation. The University of Florida has been ahead of the curve due to its close ties with Chris Malachowsky, a co-founder of Nvidia and a graduate of the university, who sits on its Foundation Board.

In 2018, Malachowsky advised the school to develop an AI strategy, and a subsequent meeting with Glover in 2019 led to the establishment of the AI-focused program.