Tech Explained: Here’s a simplified explanation of the latest technology update around Tech Explained: How student Izabella Hedjazi is shaping ethical AI in Simple Termsand what it means for users..
For Izabella Hedjazi, college has been about exploring new ideas, and one of the most exciting discoveries has been artificial intelligence. Hedjazi says she has witnessed the rapid integration of AI into university courses and academic life. That shift even inspired her to change her major from nutrition to communication studies with a minor in information systems.
“I couldn’t feel content with just creating with AI when I saw the need for us to be thinking about ethics, governance and the implications of the technology,” she said.
“I couldn’t feel content with just creating with AI when I saw the need for us to be thinking about ethics, governance, and the implications of the technology.”
In fall 2025, the University of Nevada, Reno launched Pack AI, a new resource for students and faculty to build skills through AI and find new purpose and creativity in their chosen fields. Initially, Hedjazi felt hesitant to use large language models such as ChatGPT or Gemini because she assumed they functioned mainly as essay‑writing tools. Her perspective changed while working at the University Writing and Speaking Center, where conversations with peers and students helped her understand AI’s broader potential.
Hedjazi, a communication studies major with an information systems minor at the University of Nevada, Reno, recalls witnessing a student ask AI to suggest three strategies for improving the flow of their writing. “It really comes down to how you are prompting it,” Hedjazi said. “You can make sure it’s not plagiarizing and is being a tool for your own process.”
Hedjazi’s passion and curiosity for AI continued to grow. She is the founder and president of Wolf Pack AI Collective, a University club created as a space for students who want to explore AI’s uses while engaging with broader issues such as art, the environment and technology.
Rather than positioning the club as strictly pro‑ or anti‑AI, Hedjazi envisioned it as a space where differing perspectives could coexist. The club invites students to explore AI’s applications while also examining creativity, ethics, environmental impact and governance.
“I’m of the belief that people usually fear or reject something without engaging in it because they believe they have no influence over it,” she said. “Gen Z has grown up with multiple crises that probably made us feel as though we have no control in the world. I’d like to remind students that, no matter their opinion on AI or anything in society, they do have influence. I hope to ensure it stays that way with this club.”
“Gen Z has grown up with multiple crises that probably made us feel as though we have no control in the world. I’d like to remind students that, no matter their opinion on AI or anything in society, they do have influence.”
Hedjazi’s coursework has also shaped her perspective. Last fall, Hedjazi took Business Process Management, a business automation course taught by adjunct professor Raj Misra that integrates AI into its curriculum. In the class, students used AI to create agents designed to support business growth.
Hedjazi also studied AI outdoors through a one‑credit weekend course, AI in the Wild: Exploring Artificial Intelligence Through Nature, taught by Lyndsay Munro, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, at the Lake Tahoe campus. The course allowed students to blend academic inquiry with hands‑on field experience. Hedjazi created projects based on a “robot’s perspective,” using storytelling and worldbuilding to prompt AI‑generated images that reflected her imagination. The small class size allowed students to explore creativity in depth and produce distinctive work.
Originally from Las Vegas, Hedjazi said the University of Nevada, Reno, was the right fit. “It’s close enough to home that I won’t be too far from my family, but Reno also gave me my first real sense of independence,” she said. “Attending college here was one of the best choices I’ve made.”
As Hedjazi approaches graduation this year, she is excited by the possibility of entering a job that does not yet exist — or even creating one herself. She hopes Wolf Pack AI Collective will remain at the University long after she leaves, offering students a welcoming environment to explore AI thoughtfully, discuss concerns openly and engage intellectually with emerging technologies.