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The Ohio State University plans to hire 100 new tenure-track faculty with expertise in artificial intelligence over the next five years. The AI Faculty Hiring Initiative is part of an institution-wide strategy to position Ohio State as a national powerhouse and global leader in AI-related research, education, and new applications. The announcement of the hiring plans was first made by The Ohio State University President Walter “Ted” Carter during his 2025 State of the University address, in which he outlined the university’s Education for Citizenship 2035 strategic plan. That plan identified AI as one of OSU’s central priorities for the future along with new student financial aid commitments, an expansion of its healthcare training programs, and an increase in its research portfolio. The new hires will join one of three AI faculty cohorts: Foundational AI — focusing on the theoretical, mathematical and algorithmic underpinnings of AI. Applied AI — developing AI to translate new ideas into real-world solutions for Ohio and beyond. Responsible AI and Cybersecurity — ensuring ethical and secure applications of AI in the future. Initial faculty searches are underway according to the university’s release, with the first group of new appointees expected to join the institution next fall. They will complement about 300 scholars who are already on campus working with AI in various disciplines. In June, Ohio State University introduced a new AI Fluency initiative, infusing basic AI education into its core undergraduate requirements and majors. The aim of that project, which began this fall for first-year freshmen, is to equip students with the ability to use AI tools as well as to “understand, question and innovate with them — no matter their major.” The desire is that Ohio State students will become "bilingual" — fluent in both their major field of study and in the application of AI to that field. “Artificial intelligence is transforming the way we live, work, teach and learn. In the not-so-distant future, every job, in every industry, is going to be impacted in some way by AI,” said President Carter at the time the AI Fluency project was announced. MORE FOR YOU Regardless of their major, all OSU undergraduates will now participate in these three additions to the curriculum: An introduction to generative AI, part of a required General Education Launch Seminar that asks students to define their academic and career goals and highlights educational paths for developing their interests. GenAI workshops that are integrated into Ohio State’s First Year Success Series. A new Unlocking Generative AI course that teaches students how to interact effectively with AI, craft effective prompts and explore AI’s impact on society. Ohio State also recently launched what it’s calling the AI(X) Hub, or AI to the power of X. A university-wide effort involving all 15 of Ohio State’s colleges, the hub is intended to empower “faculty, researchers and students to harness AI for the public good and develop solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges,” according to the universisty. The incoming 100 AI-focused faculty will become integral members of the hub, working on collaborative projects across disciplines. “Ohio State is committed to pursuing academic excellence while harnessing AI in classrooms, studios and research labs,” said Executive Vice President and Provost Ravi V. Bellamkonda, in a statement. “AI is reshaping both education and research, and Ohio State stands at the forefront of this evolution. Our exceptional faculty and students are exploring AI’s exponential possibilities across diverse disciplines, driving innovation, advancing impactful research and preparing to lead in a rapidly changing world.”
