Students show how they’re using artificial intelligence at second annual AI showcase

September 15, 2026 - 09:39

Dozens of students gathered on the sixth floor of the Eric J. Barron Innovation Hub on Monday for the Nittany AI Alliance's second annual AI showcase. The event gave participants a chance to present projects that apply artificial intelligence to real world problems.

Teams walked attendees through working prototypes and research efforts. Projects covered areas such as health care, sustainability, education and campus life. Several students explained how they trained models, cleaned data sets and tested their tools with actual users. Others focused on the ethical questions that come with deploying AI, including bias, privacy and access.

Organizers said the showcase has grown since its first year, with more students from different majors taking part. Faculty mentors noted that the projects reflect a shift from simple experiments to tools that could be used outside the classroom.

The event also gave students a chance to practice explaining technical work to a general audience. Many said the feedback they received will help them refine their projects before moving forward. The alliance plans to continue supporting student led AI work through workshops, funding and mentorship in the coming year.