CSUEU Response to CSU AI Initiative

CSU Chancellor Mildred García announced last week a “groundbreaking” initiative with tech companies, including ChatGPT, to use “the power of artificial intelligence to create an AI-empowered higher education system.”

After reading the University press release, we have many more questions than answers. First and foremost, what do students, staff and faculty think about this adoption that has wide and serious implications for CSU’s core constituents who study, provide support services, and teach on campuses? 
 
CSU leadership doesn’t know what we think because they launched the project with little to no input from faculty, students, and staff. Our Union will be conducting a staff survey to learn more about how AI may impact the work we perform day-to-day. 
 
In the real (non-AI) world, when leaders act without accepting real feedback, we have seen poor management lead directly to program cuts, loss of work, and layoffs. To show inclusiveness, the Chancellor announced a Workforce Acceleration Board, a private-public “collaboration” that will drive the work.
 
CSUEU members will have a voice in this process. For now, our initial questions are: What commitments did the CSU make to the tech companies and is there an agreement for the for-profit corporations to contribute to the CSU communities? 
 
Human-powered technology may advance, but our priorities should never change: The well-being and success of students, staff, and faculty come first.
We expect to learn more about the project and we will engage through the bargaining process to protect the interests of our members and campus communities.