Extension Foundation Releases National AI Report Highlighting Systemwide Priorities for Cooperative Extension and agInnovation
The Extension Foundation has released the 2025 National AI Report, presenting a comprehensive picture of how Cooperative Extension and agInnovation leaders across the Land-grant system are preparing for artificial intelligence. The report synthesizes a national landscape assessment, virtual focus groups, and an in-person convening in 2025, engaging leaders across the Land-grant system.
To build a shared national direction, the project unfolded across four structured phases, each designed to deepen understanding and move the system from exploration to implementation:
Phase 1: AI Landscape Assessment
A national survey established a baseline view of institutional readiness, current AI use, governance structures, and leadership perspectives. Responses from 29 states provided the first systemwide snapshot of how Extension and agInnovation are approaching AI.
Phase 2: Virtual Convening & Focus Groups
More than 100 leaders from 41 universities participated in structured discussions exploring where institutions currently stand with AI, what concerns exist, and where opportunities may emerge.
Phase 3: In-Person Convening, Brainstorming & Prioritization
Leaders met in person to generate strategies and then identify the most important areas requiring coordinated national action. This phase narrowed hundreds of ideas into focused priorities to guide long-term planning and investment.
Phase 4: In-Person Convening, Implementation Planning
Participants reconvened to outline implementation pathways for the highest-priority areas. Through facilitated discussions, leaders identified what resources, partnerships, and structural supports are required to move from ideas to action, ultimately consolidating the work into two overarching priorities: (1) Culture, Ethics, and Public Trust and (2) Capacity, Infrastructure, and Policy.
The report reflects a growing national alignment around how AI could be integrated across the Land-grant system. The report provides a foundation for coordinated leadership around shared priorities and outlines the supports needed for implementation to ensure that Extension and agInnovation can guide responsible, human-centered use of AI in service to communities nationwide.
This work is supported in part by New Technologies for Ag Extension (funding opportunity no. USDA-NIFA-OP-010186), grant no. 2023-41595-41325 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture in partnership with the University of New Hampshire Extension. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the University of New Hampshire Extension.
