Advancing Responsible AI Across Borders with Fulbright Scholar Dr. Uma Gupta
The influence of artificial intelligence is rapidly increasing, and many organizations are trying to understand what it means to use these systems responsibly. Dr. Uma Gupta addresses this issue head-on. “We are heading into a society where you know AI or you do not know AI, and that will be the wedge that will separate us.” As the Fulbright Canada Distinguished Research Chair at the Sprott School of Business, she is focusing on the skills and knowledge needed for organizations to navigate this shift with sound judgment.
As a visiting Fulbright scholar, Uma brings more than thirty years of scholarship, leadership, and practice to Sprott. She has held senior roles across several U.S. universities. She served as Dean of the College of Technology at the University of Houston, as the McGraw Endowed Chair & Professor of Information Technology at Creighton University, and as Professor of Management at the State University of New York.
She now serves as Associate Professor & Founding Director of Business Analytics at the University of South Carolina Upstate, where she leads initiatives in data-driven decision-making and digital transformation. She also leads Babbage AI Consulting as Chief Executive Officer, where she trains organizations on AI ethics and responsible usage.
In her recent Sprott research seminar, “Building a Competent AI Ethics Workforce: Define, Teach, Measure, Build,” Uma identified a clear challenge that organizations face when adopting technical solutions. Organizations deploy AI systems faster than they train employees to understand and navigate their capabilities, limitations, and ethical implications. Many employees do not know where to begin. “There is a lot of chaos and confusion about what people should learn. If I do a certification, will I get a job? What exactly does it mean?” she said.
Her research addresses this uncertainty by identifying the competencies employees need to evaluate AI systems responsibly. She focuses on three key areas. The first involves defining foundational skills, such as technical literacy, ethical reasoning, and awareness of organizational processes. The second consists of teaching AI ethics across business, management, analytics, and leadership programs. And the third area involves assessment, where she develops tools to help organizations evaluate their readiness and develop training programs.
Uma’s residency places her in a setting where AI ethics, management research, and organizational practice intersect. Ottawa’s policy and research community gives her access to experts who are examining how technology shapes work, public services, and decision-making. This environment allows her to connect her research on responsible AI with practitioners who face these questions every day. AI now influences hiring, service delivery, logistics, communication, and many other areas of organizational activity. Ethical risks can appear in any of these settings, and missteps can affect individuals and communities. Many organizations recognize these risks but lack clear frameworks to guide responsible adoption.
Uma addresses this gap by developing practical models that identify the skills employees need and the conditions that support responsible decision-making. Her teaching philosophy reinforces continuous learning. “AI belongs to the self-learners, the continuous learners, those who see learning as play and fun,” she says. She encourages learners to develop patience and curiosity. “Some things will be boring, some things will be frustrating. If it is, you either push through if it is important or learn another course from somebody else.” This perspective informs her work with students, faculty, and partners.
As Uma continues her residency at Sprott, she strengthens Canada’s presence in global conversations about responsible AI and advances its application in the workforce. Through her research and engagement, she is helping shape how the Sprott community understands and approaches AI.