Representatives from the U. S. National Science FoundationAI Institute for Adult Learning and Online Education (AI-ALOE) joined colleagues from across the NSF AI research institutes network at the Summit for AI Institutes Leadership (SAIL), held October 21–23. The three-day event highlighted cross-institute collaboration, industry partnerships, and the expanding role of artificial intelligence in education, research, and workforce development.

AI-ALOE Contributions Span Research, Practice, and Communication

AI-ALOE was prominently represented throughout the summit with several key presentations and posters. The institute’s outreach, research, and education initiatives were featured in sessions across all three days.

AI-ALOE’s Jackelyn Bjorne and Sanaz Ahmadzadeh Siyahrood opened the week with presentations on Tuesday morning. Blaine Helmick joined the Industry Collaborations: Industry Perspectives session on Wednesday afternoon, contributing insights from AI-ALOE’s partnerships with corporate and workforce training stakeholders.

On Thursday morning, Chris Dede spoke during the Leveraging AI Institute Collaboration for Advocacy panel. Additionally, Glen Smith and Rahul Dass had posters showcasing ongoing AI-ALOE research in personalized learning and scalable educational technologies.

Cross-Institute Collaboration in Focus

Hosted by the NSF AI Institutes Virtual Organization (AIVO), SAIL 2025 brought together leaders from academia, industry, and government to discuss opportunities for collaboration across the growing AI research ecosystem.

Sessions throughout the week explored topics such as interdisciplinary research, AI ethics and trustworthiness, and advancing educational programs. The AI4Ed and Ed4AI sessions provided focused opportunities for the five education focused institutes, AI-ALOE, iSAT, INVITE, Engage-AI, and AI4ExceptionalEducation, to exchange findings and discuss new directions in teaching and learning.