Students at Engage 2025

Engage 2025: On the cutting edge AI of today and tomorrow

In a world where many people find themselves feeling unsettled with changes, complexity, and shifting status quo, the ASU mindset remains one of resiliency and “antifragility.”

“It’s not only the ability to be resilient, it’s actually to take the moment that we live in, and not only be able to resist the shocks in the system,” said Lev Gonick, chief information officer at ASU, “and actually be international about how we can get better. That is the ASU mindset.”

This year's Engage 2025, the ASU Enterprise Technology’s professional development day, showcased the achievements and outlook of the university’s latest in technology and AI.

Gonick touted large enrollment numbers, alongside a record-breaking $1 billion allocated toward ASU research efforts, and the upcoming opening of a new school focused on conservation.

Lev Gonick speaking at Engage 2025
Lev Gonick speaking at ASU Engage 2025.

Photo by Tabbs Mosier, ASU Enterprise Technology.

In a fireside chat moderated by Kyle Bowen, Deputy CIO of Enterprise Technology, Judith Karshmer, Dean and Professor, and Chief Wellness Officer of the Edson College of Nursing and Innovation, and Micheal Yudell, Dean and Professor of the College of Health Solutions, shared their experiences and expectations of AI in healthcare.

“AI has impact on our learners, it has impact for our providers, it has impact for our patients, and it has impact for our communities,” said Karshmer. “And all four of those are such an important part of what we’re doing at ASU.” 

She then highlighted an occasion in which a nursing student used AI to help present medical information to all members of a family, including a five-year-old child and their anxious parents. The final product was praised for comforting the family and informing them further of their medical needs.

Yadell, whose personal mission for equitable access to care stems from his own experience battling cancer, cited the different variables which can impact patient outcomes, including demographics and environment. 

“Why do different groups have different outcomes? Yadell asked. “We’ve zeroed in because of data analytic limitations on one of two of those variables, historically, and now with large language models and AI systems, we can load a tremendous amount of information. We can get to a better understanding of what is guiding your health – what is pushing you in different directions? We’re looking at ways to integrate the biological, the social, and the environmental.”

But with AI access to such large amounts of data information, the security of that information quickly became top of discussion. 

“I’m concerned with the integration of all these technologies into our lives.” Yadell said. “We are partaking in technology-related integration into our lives without necessarily consenting to the data and how it gets funneled back and used in different ways.”

The first of two breakout sessions focused on data fundamentals, data security and data tools.

One workshop, “Ask a Database with Natural Language Querying,” took an inside look into ChatGPT and other chat agents that relied on databases in order to produce information. The workshop, led by Mike Sharkey, experimented with chat agents and took a deeper dive into the question, “what happens when the AI doesn’t have that information in its database?”

Another workshop, “Data Privacy Fundamentals,” went over high-level data privacy laws applicable to both the State of Arizona as well as ASU and ASU Enterprise.

Other workshops included "Workday Check-Ins," "Director Instructional Design and Training" and "Culture + Creativity + Swag = Win Win Win!" 

Session two of breakout sessions emphasized technology security standards, digital tools and the student worker to employee pipeline.

“Student Worker to Employee: Lessons from Classroom Support,” discussed the journey of a student worker to a full-time employee with Enterprise Technology, and the lessons learned along the way. From hiring, to training, to utilization, the skills student workers get are aimed at covering them for their future careers.

ASU’s updated cybersecurity and data governance standards were presented and discussed in “Elevated Security: Understanding ASU’s Updated Technology Standards.” The session went over expectations, responsibilities, and compliance requirements – and why they’re in place.

Additional workshops included "Hands-On with CreateAI: Learn, create, and challenge what you know about AI," and "Building a ServiceNow Catalog Item."

Engage 2025 concluded with the fourth annual Enterprise Technology Expo, presenting new project work and progress on initiatives underway.

According to Gonick, the abundance mindset at ASU fuels the innovation and initiative seen across the university.

“At ASU, we lead with courage,” Gonick said. “We lead with empathy.”