Through the Commonwealth AI Transdisciplinary Strategy (CATS AI), the University of Kentucky is advancing a bold, coordinated approach to artificial intelligence — one that expands access, accelerates discovery and strengthens how we serve the Commonwealth.
This page offers regular updates on our progress, highlighting key milestones, emerging efforts and what lies ahead as we continue building a future shaped by responsible and impactful AI.
April marked a pivotal moment in the university’s AI journey, as CATS AI strengthened its leadership, expanded learning opportunities and advanced coordination across campus.
CATS AI recently welcomed Shirley Mitchell as director. In the role, Mitchell will guide campuswide efforts to make AI practical, responsible and useful for Kentucky and its communities.
A Lexington native and University of Kentucky graduate, Mitchell brings deep experience leading digital and technology initiatives at Valvoline Global and Lexmark. She has led global teams, launched large-scale platforms and advanced early AI-driven efforts in sales, commerce and decision-making.
At Valvoline Global, Mitchell developed customer platforms and digital commerce strategies. Early in her career at Lexmark, Mitchell focused on global operations and customer experience, scaling digital systems in international markets. She also served as an officer in the U.S. Navy, where she led construction and infrastructure projects in the U.S. and abroad.
In this new role at her alma mater, Mitchell will collaborate with faculty, campus leaders and external partners to connect UK’s AI expertise with some of Kentucky’s most complex challenges. The focus is on people first, with technology serving teaching, research, healthcare and outreach.
“This moment in time is about people, not technology, and what becomes possible when we equip them to be more, learn more and lead in new ways,” Mitchell said. “At the University of Kentucky, we are approaching this moment with purpose; seeing it not as a replacement, but as a way to amplify the very best of our students, our workforce and our communities. If we lead with vision and responsibility, Kentucky can help show the country what it means to harness innovation in service of the public good — because in the end, the true measure of progress is not what we build, but who we lift.”
Through the AI Literacy and Training (ALT) Hub, faculty, staff and students continued to build confidence in practical AI use. Growing participation in TEK 100 reflected strong demand for accessible, applied learning — an important foundation for responsible adoption at scale.
The ALT Hub continues to work with partner Phygital Labs to increase AI literacy across campus. All members of the campus community can enroll in in-person and virtual workshop trainings around Microsoft and Copilot use. Groups may also request tailored trainings.
In May, CATS AI translated that foundation into visible momentum, expanding participation, launching new innovation efforts and elevating the University of Kentucky’s national presence in applied AI.
By June, CATS AI had entered a more execution-focused phase — moving beyond awareness and exploration to scale learning, accelerate adoption and expand real-world applications across the university and the Commonwealth.
Innovation and responsibility advanced together throughout June. CATS AI continued building the governance structures needed to support AI adoption at scale, including guidance, review processes and cross-functional collaboration focused on ensuring AI is implemented thoughtfully, securely and in alignment with the university's mission.
Building on its campus momentum, the university submitted a proposal to establish a statewide AI Coordination Hub through the NSF AI-Ready America initiative. The proposal brings together higher education institutions, workforce organizations, K–12 education partners, small business networks and state agencies with a shared goal: expanding AI access, training and workforce readiness across all 120 Kentucky counties. This effort reflects UK's broader land-grant mission to ensure the benefits of AI are accessible to communities, industries and regions across the Commonwealth.
A cornerstone of that progress has been the UK CATS AI Literacy and Training (ALT) Hub, which serves as the university's central hub for AI education, training and expertise. Since formalizing within the CATS AI framework, the ALT Hub has connected more than 1,000 employees across 17 colleges and centers and 50 departments and units to practical AI learning opportunities. With more than 80 active training requests across the institution, demand for AI skills continues to grow and reflects UK's commitment to building an AI-ready workforce.
Following a month of foundational deployment, March has focused on strengthening leadership, expanding learning infrastructure and increasing the University of Kentucky’s visibility as a national leader in artificial intelligence.
Planned and emerging milestones include:
Progress is underway to hire a dedicated CATS AI Director who will provide strategic leadership and coordination across the university’s AI efforts.
This role will be central to:
The Director will serve as a key connector — ensuring CATS AI continues to move forward with focus, cohesion and sustained momentum.
On March 24th, the university will launch the ALT Hub — formerly the AI/ML Hub — as a central destination for AI education, connection, training and collaboration. Also launching on March 26th is a webinar series produced by Phygital Labs to educate the community on effective use of Microsoft 365 products and Copilot.
As part of this effort, an education roadshow, in partnership with Phygital Labs, will engage colleges and units across campus through:
The ALT Hub will play a critical role in building foundational AI literacy, serving as a convener of AI efforts and expertise and creating a shared culture of learning and experimentation across the institution.
President Capilouto and other University of Kentucky leaders participated in the Microsoft AI Tour in Washington, D.C., a national convening focused on the future of artificial intelligence across sectors. President Capilouto also sat on a panel to discuss UK's vision and impact across Kentucky alongside representatives from NASA and Booz Allen Hamilton.
UK’s participation highlights:
This engagement reinforces UK’s position as a thought partner and leader in advancing AI for public impact.
Preparations are underway for the launch of the CATS AI Challenge, an initiative designed to engage the campus community in developing creative, high-impact applications of artificial intelligence.
The challenge will invite faculty, staff and students to:
This initiative reflects CATS AI’s commitment to empowering the community to actively shape and apply AI in ways that advance the university’s mission.
February marked a significant transition for CATS AI — moving from foundational planning to active deployment, engagement and early implementation across the University of Kentucky.
Key progress highlights include:
Five CATS AI subcommittees were formally established to integrate perspectives and coordinate work across the institution:
Each subcommittee was fully populated with representatives from across the university and began meeting to identify opportunities, surface challenges and advance ideas within their respective domains.
Together, these groups serve as the core mechanism for ensuring that CATS AI remains collaborative, responsive and aligned with institutional priorities.
Microsoft Copilot was deployed broadly to faculty, staff and students, significantly expanding access to secure, enterprise-level generative AI tools.
This rollout provides the university community with the ability to:
The deployment represents a foundational step in building an AI-enabled campus culture grounded in responsible use and experimentation.
Planning and preparation advanced for the expansion of the student TEK100 AI course to support foundational AI literacy for faculty and staff.
This effort focuses on:
The expansion of TEK100 to employees and partners is a key component of CATS AI’s commitment to demystifying AI and equipping the university community with practical, usable skills.
The University of Kentucky hosted a campus-wide “AI in Action” event in partnership with Microsoft, showcasing real-world applications of artificial intelligence across disciplines.
The event featured:
This event reinforced UK’s growing role as a convener, collaborator and leader in accessible AI adoption, both on campus and across the Commonwealth.
