LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 23, 2026) — This Thursday, the University of Kentucky will host "Cats AI in Action," an artificial intelligence (AI) showcase in partnership with Microsoft — the first corporate partner of the Advancing Kentucky Together Network. For the first time, students, faculty and staff from across the institution who have engaged in AI will come together in one place to demonstrate the dynamic work they accomplish by leveraging technology, innovative tools and a seemingly preternatural drive and passion to advance what’s possible with the tools of not only today but tomorrow.
"UK x Microsoft Cats AI in Action" will take place 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26, at UK's Gatton Student Center. Below is a peek into the range of topics that attendees can expect to see and learn about at the event's various engagement zones.
AI Incubator at UK and TEK 100: Healthcare (ultrasound and drone innovations) and student startups
Students and faculty across UK have been building with artificial intelligence for years. Some to push the limits of what is capable in research and design, others to harness the extraordinary computational power to solve problems in ways that have never before been possible. The AI Incubator offers that space for direct, hands-on engagement that bolsters even more educational opportunities on campus.
At this zone, attendees will hear from and explore the work of more than two dozen students and faculty from the AI Incubator — everyone from the AI-curious and skeptical, to students engaged in clinical trials and even student founders of AI-powered startups. UK students are using AI for cancer detection, building fintech companies, advancing Alzheimer’s research and even delivering blood to trauma victims by drone. All of those projects will be available for hands-on demonstration at the showcase.
Attendees also will hear about the new TEK 100 AI literacy course, where students are proposing ideas and AI projects that have never been done before. Students and faculty are experimenting, sharing strategies and building a campus-wide community of AI learners and experts from every college.
“We have the tools, the resources and more ideas and projects than we have students and faculty to work on them,” said Tama Thé, M.D., assistant professor in UK’s College of Medicine Department of Emergency Medicine. “So, no matter your experience level, come check us out! We have big goals for what AI can do for Kentucky, and we’re building the community to make it real.”
College of Design Systems: Digital Twins, NVIDIA DGX Spark, 3D Printing
At the College of Design’s engagement zone, visitors will see how artificial intelligence is being used to bridge the gap between physical and digital worlds. The team will demonstrate how powerful AI systems can generate and refine design concepts, analyze real-world conditions and help optimize performance through product design, architecture, interior design and historic preservation.
Attendees will also see student work that incorporates AI into the design process, including projects that use AI to explore new forms, materials and fabrication methods. The goal is to show that AI isn’t about replacing human creativity — it’s about helping designers think more broadly, test ideas faster and build more intelligently.
“AI is changing how we explore ideas," said Joe Brewer, director of technology and facilities in the College of Design. "We’re using it as a tool to expand creativity — to test more possibilities, solve complex problems and bring smarter solutions into the physical world. I’m excited for people to see that AI isn’t something abstract or distant — it’s something we can shape and apply in meaningful ways right here at UK.”
Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching: Real-time game coding and faculty integration
Across higher education, AI has provoked a transdisciplinary conversation about teaching and learning. As we observe how this technology affects our sense of knowledge, skills and work in real time, UK faculty ask how they can address these changes in how they teach, design learning experiences and engage with students. At UK, this has been the work of instructors across the disciplines as well as the Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching (CELT).
“Across all areas of study, instructors are exploring how to engage with AI in ways that advance student learning and offer new perspectives on the work of their disciplines,” said Trey Conatser, Ph.D., assistant provost for teaching and learning and director of CELT. “This work isn’t just about using new tools. It involves deep inquiries around what it means to learn and work with AI, and how we can prepare students with the knowledge, skills and dispositions for careers that will be increasingly marked by the evolution of AI technologies.”
At the teaching and learning engagement zone, staff and faculty affiliated with CELT will showcase how AI is currently being used in a wide range of classes and how instructors are addressing emerging issues around AI in education to center student learning and success. The zone will feature faculty engagement with AI stemming from CELT’s Teaching Innovation Institute and offer participants an opportunity to experience live demonstrations such as vibe-coding educational games for different topics.
UK Innovate: UK HealthCare Agent Ambient Listening and the Socratic Tutor
At the UK Innovate engagement zone, attendees will see how artificial intelligence is reshaping the way health care, education and industry operate at the University of Kentucky. From improving how patients connect with providers to enhancing how medical students and faculty engage with complex material, the featured projects demonstrate how AI can streamline access to information, support real-time learning and strengthen clinical decisionmaking. A prototype of the UK HealthCare Provider Agent illustrates how natural-language tools can simplify navigation within health systems, while Socratic Tutor shows how AI can reinforce classroom learning. LiDAR-based 3D scanning further demonstrates how data-driven technologies are helping surgeons plan reconstructive procedures with greater precision. Together, the demonstrations highlight how AI can be integrated into daily workflows to create practical benefits for learners, clinicians and industry partners.
“This kickoff showcases demonstrations that highlight how CATS AI and Microsoft will accelerate AI adoption by unlocking new partnerships and opportunities that position the university at the forefront of impact for our faculty, staff, students and partners across Kentucky,” said Landon Borders, senior executive director of technology development, product management and R&D partnerships.
Office of Undergraduate Research, Materials Science: Accelerated material discovery and Ocelot machine learning
Chemical and materials discovery has traditionally followed trial-and-error approaches. These methods can also be costly in terms of chemicals, equipment and time. This team is developing and implementing AI approaches that can fit into, and potentially transform, the ways in which chemists design and synthesize new forms of matter. This work is part of the broader global effort often referred to as AI for Science, wherein AI and machine learning (ML) are being integrated into scientific workflows to accelerate discovery.
In this engagement zone, the team will demonstrate how they build datasets of molecular and materials properties and develop ML models to allow for the rapid exploration of chemical and materials properties. In parallel, they are integrating robot-enabled experiments in the laboratory, motivated by visions of laboratories of the future where humans and robots work side-by-side. They will also highlight efforts to democratize access to data and AI models to ensure that they are widely available and adopted.
“We are excited to participate in the UK x Microsoft day to showcase our approach to integrating AI into scientific discovery, and to highlight how researchers at the University of Kentucky are developing AI approaches that will transform their fields," said Chad Risko, Ph.D., assistant vice president for research development and support and faculty director of UK's Office of Undergraduate Research.
Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering: New Bachelor of Science degree in Artificial Intelligence and Undergraduate AI Certificate.
The Pigman College of Engineering Department of Computer Science launched the state's first Bachelor of Science degree in AI. At this engagement zone, participants will hear about the academic offering available in the college as well as the AI certificate which is open to any student at the university interested in AI.
Participants will learn about the world-class research in AI happening at the college and information guides will also be available to those interested in majoring in AI.
“We are thrilled to participate in the 'AI in Action' event and to see the UK community coming together to share diverse perspectives on the field," said Zongming Fei, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Computer Science. "UK Computer Science has launched the state of Kentucky’s first B.S. in AI program this semester, following the introduction of our undergraduate AI certificate in Fall 2024. We are eager to explore collaborative research and educational opportunities with partners across the university.”
****
UK x Microsoft "CATS AI in Action" will take place 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26, at UK's Gatton Student Center. The event is free and open to all UK faculty, staff and students, as well as community members. Read more here.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
