Dr. Nagwan Zahry co-teaches the “AI for Everyone” course. Photo by Angela Foster.
Would you pay for ChatGPT if it were $100 a month?
One student quickly shook his head no.
Another nodded proudly.
This mixed reaction from her students is exactly what Dr. Nagwan Zahry hoped for in the “AI for Everyone” class at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Zahry, an associate professor in the Department of Communication, co-teaches the course with Dr. Beni Asllani, head of the Department of Data Analytics in the Gary W. Rollins College of Business and Rollins Professor of Artificial Intelligence.
“The idea of the class is to have an interdisciplinary approach so we can combine humanities and social sciences with computer science knowledge,” Zahry said. “Most of my sessions are about human/computer interaction and the ethical legal use of AI.”
Her background is in studying how to simplify scientific language and build collaborations across STEM fields. In this course, that means focusing on how people think and feel about AI.
“We don’t encourage them to use AI. We encourage them to think critically about AI applications,” Zahry said. “We’re showing them the pros and cons of using AI.
“AI is a social force. It’s a social phenomenon. It’s not just a technology-based innovation, but it’s something that has different implications on social and environmental aspects of life.”
Asllani covers the technical side—teaching core AI principles, machine learning concepts and tools such as ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot. He said the course received strong support from across campus because it meets a growing need.
“AI is becoming the new literacy,” Asllani said. “Just like we once had to learn to read and write, do math and learn foreign languages, now we all need to understand how to communicate with AI and use it to become more productive in our personal and professional lives.”
Zahry said student reactions have been mixed, and that’s part of the point.
“Their main perception was confusion, anxiety about what AI will bring in their future career and how they can deal with all the challenges of learning AI,” Zahry said.
Behind the scenes, it was graduate assistant Daniel Duggin who helped build the class from the ground up.
As an undergraduate, Duggin—who earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science in 2024—worked on UTC’s AI initiative and helped write the first course outline and syllabus before teaming up with Zahry and Asllani to launch it.
“My experience with ‘AI for Everyone’ started my senior year of undergraduate,” said Duggin, now a student in UTC’s Master of Computer Science program. “Eventually the question arose, ‘Should we have a course that teaches students about these tools on a general level?’
“We wanted to give them cool examples to work with and be comfortable with.”
Now, he helps lead lectures on generative AI using tools like ChatGPT, Claude and GitHub Copilot, plus a teaching platform called Amplify.
“I think this is important because AI is here to stay, whether you love it or hate it,” Duggin said. “It’s really an honor to be able to teach students how to use these tools—not just to get answers or do things for them, but to really elevate them and help them stand out when they leave the classroom and leave UTC.”
Cody Posey participates in the “AI for Everyone” class.
Cody Posey, a senior human resources management major and student in the class, expressed the same feelings toward AI.
“People were against the internet,” Posey said. “It’s just smart to know how to use.”
He said the class has shown him the different approaches to AI technology.
“There are a lot of different uses,” he said. “Some departments permit it and others don’t. It’s kind of enlightening to see. I think they’re pushing it. But they want you to use it for the future, not just to graduate.”
Zahry compared AI to the moment when calculators first appeared in classrooms. What was once controversial is now deemed essential.
“When they were first introduced, everyone said, ‘Hey, students will forget about math and how to do the calculations.’ They thought it would have side effects on mental, cognitive skills and so forth,” Zahry said. “But now calculators are used for solving bigger problems, environmental problems and health problems.
“We’re just starting with AI. We don’t know where it will go, but it will definitely be a big change.”
Asllani said this class will help prepare students as AI becomes a part of our daily lives.
“Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant concept confined to computer science labs,” Asllani said. “It’s becoming a vital part of every industry and every career path.
“This is the motivation behind the new course. It’s designed to ensure that students from all majors, from literature to business, biology to art, can access the tools, knowledge and confidence to engage with AI in a meaningful way.”
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