Digital twins offer universities substantial benefits by enhancing energy efficiency, streamlining maintenance, and enabling the simulation of various scenarios. With layered data from spatial layouts, equipment attributes, and real-time sensor feeds, institutions can optimize operations, such as occupancy-based HVAC control and predictive maintenance. These capabilities have led to significant savings, as seen at Georgia Southern University, which reduced operational expenses by about $1 million in nine months. Additionally, digital twins help universities meet sustainability goals and prepare for events like natural disasters by allowing them to simulate and plan for various scenarios.

Purdue University has introduced a comprehensive artificial intelligence initiative, AI@Purdue, covering learning, research, usage and partnerships. A key feature is the "AI working competency" graduation requirement, starting in 2026, to help prepare students for jobs requiring the use of AI technologies. The strategy includes using AI to advance research in biopharmaceutical manufacturing, health care and drug discovery.

The Commerce Department has threatened to take control of Harvard University's patents stemming from federal funding, citing noncompliance with the Bayh-Dole Act. The move, which could involve patents worth hundreds of millions of dollars, has drawn criticism from legal experts and industry leaders who argue it could set a concerning precedent and discourage innovation.

CourseWise is an AI-powered platform developed by the Computational Approaches to Human Learning lab at UC Berkeley to streamline the complex process of evaluating and recommending transfer course equivalencies. Currently being piloted at approximately 120 US college campuses, CourseWise analyzes institutions' historical credit transfer decisions and provides administrators with tailored suggestions for course matches.