Chapel Hill – November 06, 2026 -- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill scored 9.2 out of 10 in the 2026 AIREDEX AI Readiness Index. That places it sixth among public universities, first in North Carolina and tied for 11th nationally.
Carolina earns A+ grades for AI curriculum and research
The independent index uses publicly available information to evaluate universities in four areas: institutional commitment, curriculum, partnerships and research. Carolina received A+ grades for both its AI curriculum and its research.
The assessment highlights undergraduate opportunities in AI education and research, access to emerging technologies and university-wide efforts to guide the responsible use of AI.
Chief AI officer Saif Khairat targets responsible use over tool training
Saif Khairat, UNC-Chapel Hill's chief artificial intelligence officer and vice provost for AI, said the goal goes beyond teaching students to operate AI tools. The university wants students to understand the technology, recognize its limitations and use it responsibly, he said.
Chancellor Lee H. Roberts links the ranking to service in North Carolina
Chancellor Lee H. Roberts said Carolina has "a responsibility to help our students prepare" for the changes AI is bringing to their lives and careers. He credited faculty and staff for the result and said the aim is to put the technology to work for the people of North Carolina.
Khairat was the featured guest on the Nov. 4 episode of Well Said, the university's podcast.