Bryant University has been named a 2026 AI 50 Awards honoree by the Center for Public Sector AI. The AI 50 recognizes the nation's top 50 organizations, projects, and individuals advancing responsible, measurable innovations in artificial intelligence across government, education, nonprofits, and the private sector.
“This national recognition affirms Bryant’s distinctive approach to artificial intelligence: practical, ethical, applied, and deeply connected to teaching, learning, workforce readiness, and community impact,” says Rupendra Paliwal, Ph.D., Bryant University’s provost and chief academic officer. “We have moved beyond simply discussing AI to building programs, faculty capacity, learning tools, industry partnerships, and responsible governance structures that prepare students to use AI like professionals and lead with sound human judgment. I am grateful to the Center for Public Sector AI for recognizing Bryant’s work and the role universities can play as catalysts for responsible AI innovation across their regions.”
Bryant is the only four-year institution recognized within the “Government/Education Organization” category, which honors U.S.-based institutions that demonstrate a comprehensive and strategic approach to AI adoption, governance, and responsible implementation. The Center for Public Sector AI commended Bryant for its applied AI ecosystem, citing its interdisciplinary Bachelor of Science in Applied AI, Applied AI minor, and online Master of Science in Applied AI. The center also noted Bryant’s AI Faculty Fellows program, which charges 17 fellows across 11 departments with discipline-specific AI integration; the development of AI-powered tutoring tools for first-year courses; and Bryant’s workforce-focused AI Academy programs that connect education with industry needs. Bryant was honored alongside NASA, GovAI Coalition, Laserfiche, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and other influential organizations on this year’s list.
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Rob Lloyd, executive director of the Center for Public Sector AI, notes, “The 2026 AI 50 marks an important turning point for the public sector. Organizations have moved past AI philosophy and scanning for ‘what’s possible.’ These honorees are focused on what’s achievable through responsible implementation, setting standards for measurable outcomes for the communities they serve. They are demonstrating for others how to iterate, partner, and write operational AI playbooks."
Among Bryant’s programmatic offerings, the university recently launched the Hauck AI Performance Labs to accelerate the school’s leadership in applied AI. Through partnerships with organizations including PwC, the Digital Education Council, and Ithaka S+R, Bryant connects classroom learning with real-world innovation, giving students direct access to emerging technologies, industry expertise, and the evolving practice of responsible AI.
About Bryant University
For 163 years, Bryant University has been at the forefront of delivering an exceptional education that anticipates the future and prepares students to be innovative leaders of character in a changing world. The university delivers an integrated academic and student life experience, with nationally recognized academic programs at the intersection of business, liberal arts, and health and behavioral sciences, while embedding applied artificial intelligence and experiential learning across the curriculum.
Located on a 465-acre contemporary campus in Smithfield, R.I., Bryant enrolls over 4,000 undergraduate and graduate students from 41 states and 50 countries. Bryant is recognized as a top one percent national leader in student education outcomes and ROI and is highly ranked by U.S. News and World Report, The Wall Street Journal, QS Stars, Money, Poets&Quants, and College Factual. Bryant.edu