AI Is Reshaping Research—Are You Ready?
Next up in NISO's popular training series, AI Essentials: From Tools to Strategy, is an eight-week course happening on Thursdays from October 9 through December 4 (skipping November 27 in observance of the US Thanksgiving holiday). Led by experts in the field, it will help professionals across the research and publishing ecosystem navigate the fast-moving world of artificial intelligence in scholarly communication.
AI is already influencing how research is written, reviewed, and disseminated. As capabilities evolve, institutions have some big decisions to make: Which tools does it make sense to adopt? How do you guide researchers in responsible use of AI? And how do you make sure policy keeps up with the pace of change?
The AI Essentials training series is built to help participants meet these challenges directly. Each session offers practical insights, strategic framing, and room for discussion of what scholarly organizations should be thinking about now. Whether you and your organization are assessing tools, drafting new policies, or supporting researchers and staff, the series will provide context and examples to move forward with insight and confidence.
Over eight weeks, the program covers a wide range of timely topics. The first session, What’s Here, What’s Coming, What Matters, provides a foundational overview of AI’s current role in scholarly publishing and the tools reshaping the field. Subsequent sessions explore concerns related to research integrity, gcopyright and licensing, and the growing use of AI in core workflows like metadata enrichment and peer review. The second half of the series shifts toward institutional readiness: supporting researchers through training and consultation models, aligning AI efforts with organizational values, and planning for long-term adoption. The last two weeks guide participants through self-assessment and strategy-building, offering space to map out actionable next steps tailored to their organization.
The series is facilitated by Cynthia Hudson-Vitale, a nationally recognized leader in research infrastructure and emerging technologies and current Associate Dean of Technology Strategy and Digital Services for John Hopkins University libraries. She brings deep expertise in data policy and organizational change, helping institutions approach AI with clarity, integrity, and strategic alignment.
In a time of rapid change, this series offers space to pause, reflect, and plan smartly about artificial intelligence processes. Join us to gain the tools and frameworks you need to navigate the AI landscape with confidence!
