AI Literacy @ CNU
Working definition of AI Literacy @ CNU
At CNU, AI Literacy is grounded in an interdisciplinary liberal arts education. It is the ongoing ability to understand how artificial intelligence functions at a foundational level; to use AI tools effectively and responsibly; to critically evaluate AI’s outputs, limitations, and ethical implications; and to recognize the essential role and value of humans as sources of knowledge and creativity.
More specifically, aspects of this definition include:
- Conceptual Understanding: basic comprehension of how AI gathers, processes, and generates information, and awareness of its strengths and weaknesses;
- Ethical and Civic Awareness: recognition of the social, ethical, economic, and environmental impacts of AI on individuals and communities;
- Critical and Reflective Judgment: the ability to determine why, when, and how AI should be used, and to assess AI-generated information for bias, accuracy, and appropriateness;
- Application Competence: the skill to integrate AI tools creatively and responsibly in academic, professional, and personal contexts;
- Recognition of Human Contribution: the ability to explain the value of human reasoning, creativity, and judgment in the productive and responsible use of AI.
AI Literacy at CNU empowers students, faculty, and staff to engage artificial intelligence not as a shortcut or substitute, but as a companion in human-driven inquiry, communication, creativity, and problem-solving. Engagement in AI literacy cultivates the discernment, adaptability, integrity, and civic responsibility characteristic of a liberally educated citizen in an AI-shaped world.
Our working definition is the result of synthesizing input from 13 Idea Pods comprising 52 faculty and staff. Some language is likely to be tweaked over time, but the framework is solid and we will use this working definition as a basis for next steps.