Utah is emerging as a national leader in preparing its workforce for the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), with both K-12 and higher education systems playing pivotal roles in shaping a future-ready generation. Education and tech leaders, speaking at the Utah AI Summit, emphasized that the state’s comprehensive approach to AI education and workforce development is setting the stage for a new era of responsible, technology-driven economic growth.

Building the Future Workforce from the Ground Up

As digital natives, today’s K-12 students are uniquely positioned to navigate an increasingly AI-infused world. In Utah, the focus is not only on equipping students with AI skills but also on empowering educators and parents to engage with the technology effectively. This proactive approach is being led by the Utah State Board of Education, which is working to integrate AI into the curriculum while addressing the broader needs of the educational community. 

“USBE is working through our CTE department on AI Literacy coursework for K-6 and pathways for AI careers in seven-12,” said Matthew Winters, USBE AI specialist. “These materials and courses will be shared in the next few months.” 

The Jordan School District is already leveraging the power of generative AI through a partnership with SchoolAI, a Lehi-based company. This collaboration has brought AI-driven tools into over 2,350 classrooms, offering more than 1,000 activities designed to foster learning through interactive games, AI tutors, simulations and well-being check-ins. The platform’s real-time feedback and tailored learning plans allow teachers to address students’ individual needs, ensuring that the educational process evolves in tandem with technological advances.

Winters said the AI Summit supported over 600 educators learning some of the basics around AI, but it also explored pertinent conversations around data privacy, personalizing learning and how teachers can best practice AI. 

“Teachers have additional access to professional development through their district/schools and through statewide organizations like Utah Education Network and the STEM Action Center,” Winters said. 

Higher Education’s Role in Shaping an AI-Literate Workforce

While K-12 initiatives lay the foundation, Utah’s colleges and universities are integral to preparing the state’s workforce for the AI revolution. Institutions like Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) are embedding AI experiences across multiple industries, ensuring that students enter the workforce with practical knowledge of AI technologies. Far from replacing jobs, AI is seen as a transformative tool that can enhance productivity and innovation across sectors.

“These durable skills include digital literacy, which AI is rapidly developing as a key component of being digitally literate,” Winters said. “Along with Utah's Portrait of a Graduate, USBE has worked over the last decade to build pathways for students to learn these durable skills in classrooms including the aforementioned CTE pathways which include coursework in coding and other IT related skillsets.”

The University of Utah has also made significant strides in AI research. In 2023, it launched a $100-million initiative to explore the responsible use of AI in addressing societal challenges. Led by Manish Parashar, director of the Scientific Computing and Imaging Institute, the Responsible AI Initiative focuses on advancing AI in ways that benefit society while protecting civil rights, privacy and equity. With a focus on environment, health care and education, the initiative aims to ensure that AI technologies are developed with accountability and transparency.

“This project is on track. We’re moving very steadily and intentionally forward,” said Mitzi Montoya, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, at the symposium. “Certainly, we believe the U is poised to lead the way nationally and to continue to build incredibly beneficial outcomes for society.”

A Vision for an AI-Literate Society

In addition to the University of Utah, other higher education institutions like Utah Valley University are ensuring that students acquire the technical and ethical knowledge necessary for the AI-driven future. UVU’s graduate certificate program in AI and cybersecurity provides students with both foundational and advanced skills in the principles, algorithms and technologies that underpin AI.

These efforts across Utah’s educational institutions represent more than just preparing students for future careers—they reflect a broader vision for an AI-literate society. With a focus on ethical AI, workforce readiness and community engagement, Utah is positioning itself as a national model for responsible AI integration, ensuring that technological advancement goes hand-in-hand with societal good.

“AI is one of the underlying technologies of the 21st century and preparing Utah students with skills and mindsets around AI that are appropriate and help them to see it as a tool to build themselves up for their future, then we are preparing them for their future in the workforce,” Winters said. “AI is already integrated into many facets of workforce and by preparing our Utah learners to use it appropriately and efficiently, then we are preparing them for future careers, including careers that may be in their infancy right now.” 

As AI continues to evolve, Utah's educational leaders are not only preparing students to succeed in a changing economy but also guiding the ethical development and application of AI technologies, creating a balanced future where innovation and responsibility are intertwined.