With AI Answered, Miami University rising senior Noah Kruthaupt is focused on responsible use of artificial intelligence.

A Marketing major with an Entrepreneurship co-major, Kruthaupt co-founded AI Answered with Andy Robbins, a Miami junior. AI has been an interest of Kruthaupt’s since high school, where he ran a marketing agency and used a beta version of ChatGPT.

Robbins and Kruthaupt also co-authored “AI for Boomers: AI Made Easy for Home, Wealth, Health, and Security,” a book available on Amazon and published in December 2025.

Considering the importance of AI, both in the present and the future, Kruthaupt made a point to attend this year’s AI Congress, held in late May in Washington, D.C. Featuring government officials, policymakers, and industry leaders, the event was a chance for Kruthaupt to interact with AI thought leaders and hear from a wide sample of viewpoints on what he called “one of the most important technologies to come out of this generation.”

“We are just so early to AI, that is one of the biggest things,” Kruthaupt said of his takeaways from his time in Washington. “It is really a marathon and not a sprint. This was a huge first step in creating a support organization for everyone working in AI to help each other.”

AI Congress featured more than 75 government, industry, and leadership speakers, including Miami President Gregory Crawford.

Nate Novak, a rising junior with a Political Science major and Business Leadership co-major, also attended the AI Congress as part of his role as an intern with Miami’s Office of ASPIRE. Novak traveled to Washington with President Crawford; David Seidl, vice president for information technology and chief information officer; and Lauren Poythress, director of federal relations.

AI is a tool to be utilized and not feared, Novak said. “It definitely gave me a push to use it more often, and, more importantly, use it more effectively. There are ways to use it to enhance jobs instead of taking them. We need to educate people on how to do that,” Novak said.

AI Congress marked Novak’s second visit to Washington with ASPIRE. He also attended and helped plan that group’s alternative spring break outing, which included about 60 Miami students.

His time with ASPIRE has been beneficial. Novak praised the office, Poythress, and Randi Thomas, vice president of ASPIRE.

“They have a wealth of knowledge,” Novak said. “My professional goals are to go to D.C. and work in politics. I’ve been to D.C. many times. It’s becoming home away from home for me. The AI Congress was really interesting. It was very rewarding to hear from different speakers on this ever-evolving topic that is kind of consuming the world right now.”

Two sessions featuring President Crawford focused on quantum computing – “Accelerating Quantum Computing Education, Research, and Collaboration” and “Developing Talent Pipelines for Quantum Computing and Emerging Tech.” Miami has developed an innovative partnership with Cleveland Clinic that’s included the launch of Ohio’s first specialized degree in Quantum Computing, as well as collaboration to establish the Ohio Institute for Quantum Computing Research, Talent, and Commercialization.

Seidl, who moderated a panel on quantum computing, pointed to AI Congress as a special moment for any student who attended.

“If I was an undergraduate, I would have been stunned to be in that room,” he said. “There were national-level figures, people from industry, and people who are high up in various departments of government. I don’t think it’s the kind of experience most students get to have.”

Much of the two days was spent discussing AI in the context of what’s next, challenges ahead, and opportunities at the state and national levels.

Ohio, particularly, had a strong showing, Seidl said. He also pointed to the university’s strengths when it comes to AI, including weaving the technology into the school’s curriculum and Miami’s efforts to keep AI sustainable.

“We were able to share where Miami is positioning itself and show the university in a really positive way,” Seidl said. “Our faculty are leveraging AI in creative ways to support their programs. We want to make sure we hit a baseline so that every student gets that same AI knowledge but in the context of their major. That’s really valuable.”