The Translational Data Analytics Institute (TDAI) and AI^(x) Hub welcomed researchers, students, and partners from across Ohio State and beyond for the inaugural OSU AI Research Summit, held March 3–4, 2026, at the Blackwell Inn and Pfahl Conference Center. Designed to showcase the wide range of artificial intelligence research taking place across the university, the two-day event created space for interdisciplinary learning, conversation, and new connections around one of today’s most fast-moving areas of research.

The summit saw strong participation throughout both days, with more than 560 attendee check-ins recorded across keynote talks, panel discussions, track sessions, and poster presentations. Altogether, the program featured 12 track sessions across four research tracks, along with 81 poster presenters and four live demonstrations, reflecting both the depth and diversity of AI-related work happening at Ohio State.

“The OSU AI Research Summit reflects the incredible breadth of artificial intelligence research happening across Ohio State,” said Tanya Berger-Wolf, Director of the Translational Data Analytics Institute. “By bringing together researchers, students, and partners from across disciplines, we are creating new opportunities for collaboration and ensuring that AI research at Ohio State continues to drive innovation and real-world impact.”

Across the summit, attendees explored a wide range of topics, from AI in health and responsible AI to governance, security, and dynamical systems. Keynote speakers Victor Bahl and Ray Perrault helped frame these conversations, offering perspectives on emerging AI systems and the broader state of the field. Together, the program brought researchers and practitioners across disciplines into dialogue, giving attendees the opportunity to learn from different perspectives while also seeing how AI is being applied to complex challenges across fields.

“Artificial intelligence research today requires deep collaboration across disciplines,” said Ness Shroff, Ohio Eminent Scholar, professor of electrical and computer engineering and computer science, and Director of AI^(x)Hub at Ohio State. “Bringing together researchers from across the university helps spark new ideas and partnerships that can accelerate discovery and real-world impact.”

One of the most energizing parts of the summit was the poster session, which brought together undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, faculty, and research teams to share their work in a more interactive setting. With 81 poster presenters and four live demonstrations across the two days, the poster sessions created opportunities for meaningful one-on-one conversation, cross-disciplinary exchange, and greater visibility for emerging research.

The summit also created valuable opportunities for early-career researchers, giving students the chance to share their work, meet faculty and research leaders, and take part in conversations beyond their usual academic circles. One attendee described the summit as a valuable opportunity for “networking with peers and learning about the new and updated AI initiatives at Ohio State,” while also noting that the second day’s focus on responsible AI was “accessible and intuitive to follow.”

From AI and health to governance, ethics, human-AI interaction, and applied research across disciplines, the summit reflected both the strength of current work and the growing momentum around artificial intelligence at Ohio State. For many in attendance, it offered not only exposure to new ideas and research, but also a clearer sense of the university’s expanding AI ecosystem and the opportunities for collaboration within it.

As Ohio State continues to grow its AI research ecosystem, the inaugural OSU AI Research Summit helped lay important groundwork for future collaboration. By bringing together researchers, students, and external partners in one space, the event highlighted the strength of AI research already happening across the university while helping build a more connected community for what comes next. TDAI and the AI^(x)Hub will continue to play a central role in convening researchers, fostering collaboration, and advancing interdisciplinary AI research across the university.