The new AI club at DePauw, DepAI, held their first meeting on Oct. 27. Computer science major Shulabh Bhattarai ‘26 shared his journey of starting a new club. 

The initial idea of starting an AI club stemmed from a conversation Bhattarai had with Professor Mehmet Gulum, an assistant professor of computer science at DePauw, who is also an advisor for DepAI. Last summer, when Bhattarai conducted research with Gulum over agricultural AI usage, they shared concern for lack of awareness of its effective and ethical use, despite how quickly the new technology was growing. 

The main goal of the club is to inform about the ethical implementation of the AI tools. In order to achieve this goal, Bhattari shared four aspects of focus for the club. 

First, the club will work as a community to discuss, network and progress in the field of AI technology, giving students a safe place to participate in open discussions and connect with their peers. Secondly, guest speakers within the profession will enhance discussions on practical and ethical implications of AI. Finally, members will gain exposure to AI tools with hands-on projects. Bhattarai is planning a remote AI building project this winter for club members interested in the application of AI tools. The final aim is to give out free AI resources for students. “Many of them [students] are not aware of perks with their student email,” said Bhattarai. “AI is starting now and companies are eager to have students use those tools.”

Bhattarai looks forward to next semester, where he is thinking of a project to build an AI tool for DePauw once the club settles and is able to request proper budgeting from the DePauw Student Government. 

There is something scary about using AI daily without knowing what it actually does. Given that many students and professors use AI in their work, Bhattarai questions the implications of such usage. “It’s reducing work for students. It’s reducing work for teachers. But what are they really doing?” asked Bhattarai. “Are they substituting their whole work with AI, or are they using it as a tool to learn or make something out of it?” 

Bhattari does not want students on campus to lose the ability to reason or think, which is a common concern that arises from allowing AI to substitute work. In order to retain agency in each student’s work, he is passionate about establishing a place that informs effective use of AI as a tool for support. 

DepAI is open to students of all majors, and no coding experience is necessary. The club currently consists of 15 members and it is a place for students to discuss and explore effective use of AI in enhancing their work. “Everyone is welcome,” said Bhattarai. “If you want to learn anything about AI, you are welcome.”