The University of Michigan School of Information is launching a new minor in human-centered artificial intelligence. Starting in fall 2025, undergraduates from across U-M can learn how to use AI effectively and ethically in their chosen fields. 

Rather than focusing on the technical aspects of AI systems, the new minor emphasizes the real-world application of AI across professional domains — from business to health care to law. 

The curriculum draws upon UMSI faculty’s expertise in the human impact of technology. While students will learn to harness AI to find solutions, they will also gain the ability to make informed, responsible decisions about when and how to use it.

Students curious about how we arrived at a world so deeply influenced by tools like ChatGPT will find relevant coursework exploring the history of AI and the social forces shaping its use. They will reflect on how AI is redefining industries, labor, creativity and human decision-making. 

“Faculty at UMSI are leaders in human-centered AI research, and they are ready to bring their research to the classroom to benefit students not only at UMSI but across the university,” says Tanya Rosenblat, director of the Bachelor of Science in Information program and professor of information. 

In this Q&A, Rosenblat discusses what makes the minor unique — and what students can expect from it. 

UMSI: What inspired the creation of the human-centered AI minor?

Tanya Rosenblat: There's widespread consensus that AI, especially generative AI, will transform both the economy and the nature of work. Despite the enthusiasm, many companies are still grappling with how to effectively use generative AI and adopt these valuable, user-friendly tools.

In many ways, the current landscape of AI resembles the tech industry around the year 2000. Back then, it was clear that the internet would revolutionize the economy, but there was little agreement on how that transformation would unfold. For every enduring success like Google or Amazon, there were high-flying failures like Pets.com and AOL.com — startups that soared briefly before fading into obscurity.

Faculty at UMSI are leaders in human-centered AI research and they are ready to bring their research to the classroom to benefit students not only at UMSI but across the university. What makes the AI minor unique is its focus on providing students from diverse fields with a foundational understanding of AI, emphasizing the ethical use of AI, and equipping students with the ability to critically assess AI tools and use them to solve problems in their fields of study. 

Why is it important for students to engage with AI systems from a critical and human-centered perspective?

AI is a new technology with tremendous potential to make the world a better place, but it can also cause great harm. A human-centered approach to AI helps students to determine when its use is appropriate and when it is not, and to recognize AI's limitations, risks and unintended consequences. We want to ensure that students are equipped to use AI responsibly, considering its societal impacts and ethical implications.    

What students might this minor be a good fit for, and how will it benefit them in their academic and career paths?

The minor aims to prepare students from all majors for changing labor markets that increasingly emphasize AI literacy, AI integration in production processes, and the ethical design and implementation of AI. 

It is a good fit for students who want to complement their major with a broad, supplementary understanding of AI. Students don't need to know how to code to start the minor. With classes like "Coding without Coding," they can be empowered to use an AI assistant to build applications that will enhance their everyday life. To help students navigate AI's transformative power on society, from the future of work to the climate impact of data centers, the AI minor requires two core courses: "Understanding AI," which focuses on AI literacy and AI’s impact on society, and "AI in Practice," which equips students with the skills to critically evaluate and responsibly apply AI tools across fields. Beyond these core courses, students choose three electives. 

The minor enhances career readiness by providing practical skills valued by employers in an AI-driven world. It also allows students to connect AI concepts to their own fields, enriching their perspectives and preparing them for innovation in their careers. 

UMSI’s human-centered AI minor is open to undergraduates from any academic background. Pending approval from their home academic schools and colleges, students will be able to declare and pursue the minor starting in fall 2025. Learn more here.