Key Takeaways
- The Amplify IT26 conference at UW‑Oshkosh emphasized amplifying the human element alongside rapid AI advances.
- Student AI consultants gained firsthand exposure to low‑cost, high‑impact AI tools, realizing that effective prompting can make “no project too big.”
- Faculty highlighted risks to authenticity, mental health, and trust, while also pointing to opportunities for AI to augment—rather than replace—human judgment.
- Sessions on ethics stressed preserving empathy and relational skills in healthcare and education, even as AI assists with documentation and simulation.
- Regional partnership with the Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce underscored the university’s role in talent development and community‑industry collaboration.
- UW‑Oshkosh’s experiential learning initiatives (Small Business AI Clinic, Internal AI, Innovation Foundry) provide a model for integrating AI into real‑world problem solving.
Overview of Amplify IT26
On April 14, the University of Wisconsin‑Oshkosh hosted Amplify IT26 at the Culver Family Welcome Center, drawing educators, business leaders, and technology experts to discuss how emerging technologies are reshaping communication, decision‑making, and the future of work. The event, a signature offering of Amplify Oshkosh since 2015, has been held on the UWO campus since 2016, strengthening ties between higher education and regional industry. As Shannon Seaman, education‑talent‑and‑technology‑development director with the Oshkosh Chamber, noted, “The event brings together business leaders, technologists, educators, and innovators to explore how information technology is shaping the future of work, industry, and community.” This year’s theme—Amplifying Human…?—set the tone for conversations that placed people, ethics, and leadership at the forefront of AI discourse.
Human‑Centered Theme and Keynote
John Muraski, teaching assistant professor and director of the Center for Applied AI and Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development, described the conference’s focus as timely: “As AI, automation and other technologies continue to reshape work, the real question is not just what the tools can do, but how we help people think better, work better and adapt well in an AI‑first world.” The keynote, delivered by AI adoption strategist Paul Gibbons under the title Amplifying Human Intelligence, examined how artificial intelligence influences trust, culture, and decision‑making across sectors. Attendees participated in an interactive activity that probed AI’s role in shaping communication and judgment, reinforcing the idea that technology must serve human objectives rather than dictate them.
Student AI Consultants Experience
A cohort of UW‑Oshkosh students serving as AI consultants through experiential learning programs attended the conference to see AI in action. Jack Loper, a sophomore information systems major and internal AI student consultant, recalled a standout moment: “One of the presenters built a website in front of us using Claude and it only cost him two dollars. That was very eye‑opening… It made me realize that there’s no project too big for AI as long as you know how to prompt it properly.” Loper’s remark encapsulates the conference’s practical emphasis on prompt engineering and low‑barrier AI deployment. The students, who also support the Small Business AI Clinic, Internal AI initiative, and Innovation Foundry, used the event to network, learn, and bring back insights to their campus‑based projects.
Faculty Insights on Authenticity (Stewart Cole)
Stewart Cole, assistant professor of English and environmental studies, led a breakout session titled Amplifying Human Authenticity. He warned that large language models such as ChatGPT and Co‑Pilot lack “embodied, sensory or lived experience,” a deficit that risks undermining human authenticity and eroding trust in interpersonal interactions. Cole explained, “My presentation … will take up some of the risks of AI in terms of undermining human authenticity and diminishing the authenticity of human interaction, while also discussing the opportunity that AI presents to re‑anchor ourselves in our unique human capacities.” He linked these concerns to anxiety, mental health, cognitive offloading, and crises of trust, urging educators to integrate AI thoughtfully so that it enhances, rather than supplants, the lived dimensions of learning and work.
Ethics, Communication, and Decision‑Making (Becca McLagan & Erika Janssen)
In a session titled Amplifying Human Decisions: Ethics, Becca McLagan, a teaching‑learning‑and‑technology specialist, and Erika Janssen, nursing faculty member, explored how AI reshapes communication in fields where human interaction is essential. McLagan asserted, “As AI becomes more integrated into how we communicate, the ethical question shifts from what the technology can do to what should be preserved for humans to do.” Janssen added that in healthcare and education, “communication is foundational to outcomes… We’re interested in how AI can reduce cognitive load and expand opportunities for practice, while still preserving the human judgment and relational skills that are essential in real‑world interactions.” The discussion highlighted tools like AI‑assisted documentation and simulation‑based training, stressing that ethical deployment must safeguard empathy, trust, and nuanced judgment.
Regional Partnerships and Community Impact
Rob Kleman, president and CEO of the Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce and a UWO alumnus, highlighted the long‑standing collaboration between the chamber and the university. “Amplify has been one of the many critical partnerships over the years between the Oshkosh Chamber and UW‑Oshkosh,” Kleman said, adding that the alliance has been “vital to the long‑term success of our business community.” He emphasized that UWO’s role in developing talent, innovation, and leadership directly supports the regional economy, ensuring employers have access to emerging talent while students gain the skills needed to thrive locally. Shannon Seaman echoed this sentiment, noting the conference’s ability to bring a “wide range of voices” to bear on technology’s societal impact.
Future Directions and Institutional Role
By hosting Amplify IT26, UW‑Oshkosh reinforced its position as a regional hub for innovation, linking students, faculty, and industry partners around emerging technologies. The university’s grant‑funded experiential learning initiatives—the Small Business AI Clinic, Internal AI program, and Innovation Foundry—provide concrete pathways for students to apply AI in authentic settings, from assisting local enterprises to developing internal AI solutions. As Muraski observed, the conference reminded participants that “the future of AI is not only about technology. It is also about people, ethics, judgment and leadership.” Moving forward, the institution aims to deepen these human‑centered approaches, ensuring that AI serves as a tool for amplifying rather than attenuating the qualities that define meaningful work and community life.
Conclusion
Amplify IT26 succeeded in shifting the conversation from the capabilities of AI to the imperatives of guiding its integration with human values. Through student testimonies, faculty reflections, and regional leader insights, the event illustrated a balanced vision: embracing AI’s efficiency and innovation while safeguarding authenticity, ethical judgment, and the relational foundations of education, healthcare, and business. UW‑Oshkosh’s continued investment in experiential learning and community partnership positions it to lead this nuanced transition into an AI‑enhanced future.
UW-Oshkosh amplifies human-centered AI at Amplify IT26 conference