Xiaopeng Zhao, a professor in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Tennessee, has been selected as a fellow of Microsoft’s inaugural AI Economy Institute.
The AI Economy Institute is an initiative focused on AI education, workforce development, and industry-academic collaboration. The fellowship will provide $80,000 in funding to support Zhao’s research on how AI education can better prepare students for AI-driven careers, particularly through no-code/low-code AI tools, interdisciplinary AI fluency, and workforce readiness strategies.
Zhao brings extensive experience in AI education to the fellowship. As the founding director of UT’s Applied AI Program, he played a key role in developing and launching the Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence (BSAI) degree—one of the first undergraduate AI programs in the country.
Through his participation in the AI Economy Institute, Zhao aims to contribute to scalable and practical AI education models, ensuring that AI fluency becomes more accessible across disciplines beyond traditional computer science programs. His research will help inform curriculum development, policy recommendations, and industry collaborations, further solidifying UT’s role as a leader in AI education and workforce readiness.
Zhao will join other fellows at an event hosted by Microsoft June 24-25 in Redmond, Washington. The AI Economy Institute will host a series of virtual and in-person meetings over the next few months to foster collaboration and share insights among the fellows.
“This fellowship presents an exciting opportunity to explore how AI education can evolve to meet the demands of the modern workforce,” Zhao said. “With AI technologies advancing rapidly, it is crucial to ensure that students and professionals are equipped with the right skills—not only in coding but also in applying AI tools effectively across different disciplines.”
Contact
Rhiannon Potkey (865-974-0683, rpotkey@utk.edu)