Knud E. Berthelsen
Professor of Practice & Senior Advisor for AI Literacy
Connolly Alexander Institute for Data Science (CAIDS)
Strategy, Leadership and Analytics Minor (SLAM)
Tulane University, New Orleans
Knud Berthelsen teaches and advises on applied AI literacy: how generative AI tools work, how to work with them, and what their spread means for society, industry, careers, education, and the environment. Professor Berthelsen developed and teaches Tulane's courses on AI tools and on AI and society, built the university's Applied AI Literacy badge program, and runs the AI Mastery Workshop Series for Tulane students, faculty, and staff.
Berthelsen came to the subject from fifteen years of strategy consulting and a decade teaching international business and new venture management at Tulane's Freeman School, pivoting fully to AI when ChatGPT launched. He speaks and consults on applied AI for universities, companies, nonprofits, and professional associations.
Areas of Expertise
- AI literacy
- Applied AI and AI tools
- AI and society
- AI in higher education and the classroom
- AI, assessment, and academic integrity
- AI and the future of careers and work
- Data centers and AI infrastructure
- Environmental impact of AI
- AI in healthcare and research
- AI strategy and organizational adoption
Academic Appointments
Senior Advisor for AI Literacy
Connolly Alexander Institute for Data Science (CAIDS)
Professor of Practice
Joint appointment: Connolly Alexander Institute for Data Science (CAIDS) and Strategy, Leadership and Analytics Minor (SLAM), School of Liberal Arts
Adjunct Professor
Connolly Alexander Institute for Data Science (CAIDS)
Adjunct Lecturer
A. B. Freeman School of Business
Education
M.B.A., Strategic Management & Leadership, International Business
B.A., European & American Studies, North American Studies, English
Teaching
Courses developed
- DATA 2150: Artificial Intelligence Tools
- SLAM 3111: AI and Society
- SLAM 2031: Applied Data Analysis
Currently teaching
DATA 2150: Artificial Intelligence Tools (3 credits)
The introduction of widely available and accessible generative Artificial Intelligence tools, such as ChatGPT, democratizes expertise, unlocks knowledge, and bestows impressive abilities. This hands-on course provides students with practical experience employing generative AI to perform real-world tasks. By the end of the course, students will be able to effectively collect accurate historical and real-time information, generate high-quality text and media, transform content between formats, analyze data to derive insights and deploy generative AI to tackle private and professional challenges.
SLAM 3111: AI and Society (3 credits)
This course explores the transformative impact of widely available Artificial Intelligence (AI) on society, and its strategic implications. Students will examine how AI has changed and might further change how we live and work by examining its impact on familiar industries such as entertainment, education, and technology. Through a blend of lectures, student-led research, debates, and simulations, students will critically assess the economic, cultural, and strategic implications of widespread adoption of AI. By the end of the course, students will have developed a toolkit of strategies to navigate and lead in an AI-influenced world.
Previously taught
Tulane University
- SLAM 2030 Applied Data Analysis
- DATA 4910 Feminist AI and Maternal Health (independent study)
A. B. Freeman School of Business, 2014 to 2023
- MGMT 6150 Global Business Projects
- MGMT 6540 Asia–Global Leadership IV
- MGMT 4610 Management of New Ventures
- MGMT 6510 Global Leadership I
- MGMT 6720 Asia–Global Leadership III
- MGMT 7910 International Business Project
Curriculum & Program Development
Applied AI Literacy Badge Program
Developed a Canvas course of 26 instructional videos and 14 quizzes, issued as a LinkedIn badge.
Applied AI Literacy YouTube Course
Published a 34-video open course on the CAIDS YouTube channel.
Workshops
- AI For Cancer Researchers, Louisiana Cancer Research Center. 2026
- Assessment (Re)Design Summer Institute: Teaching and Learning in an AI-Influenced World, Tulane Center for Engaged Learning and Teaching. Facilitator and instructor. 2026
- AI: Deep Research and Deeper Understanding. 2026
- AI: What's New and What's Next. 2026
- AI: How It Works and How to Work With It. 2026
- Mastering Claude. 2025
- Mastering ChatGPT. 2025
- Mastering Gemini & NotebookLM. 2025
- AI: Beyond ChatGPT. 2025
- Latest Developments in AI. 2025
- Applying AI Tools to Administration, Tulane staff. 2024
- CELT Faculty AI Workshop: Analyzing and Improving Syllabi. 2024
- Understanding and Using AI Tools, School of Liberal Arts staff. 2024
Presentations & Invited Talks
- “Data Centers as a Stress Test,” panel. State Policy Network 34th Annual Meeting, Orlando. August 2026
- “The Rise of the AI-Mediated Patient Journey.” School of Medicine executive faculty, Tulane University. June 2026
- “AI: What Happened and What's New,” panel. Beyond Business as Usual: The AI Advantage Toolkit, Tulane School of Professional Advancement. April 2026
- “AI: How It Works & How to Work With It.” President's Cabinet, Tulane University. January 2026
- “AI: What's New.” Campus Services Leadership Retreat, Tulane University. January 2026
- “AI: Beyond ChatGPT.” Using AI to Enhance Your Scholarship Series. December 2025
- “AI's Green Revolution: Debunking Myths and Unlocking Environmental Solutions.” NOAI New Orleans AI Conference. November 2025
- “Mastering Gemini.” Health Equity Scholars for Action Master Class Series. November 2025
- “AI in Research,” panel. Tulane Information Technology Mole Week. Fall 2025
- “Cybersecurity in Use of Generative AI.” Tulane Compliance & Ethics Week. Fall 2025
- “AI Beyond ChatGPT.” Tulane Professional Development Week. Spring 2025
- “The Impact of AI on Language Learning.” School of Liberal Arts Language Learning Center, Tulane University. March 2025
- “Wine, Water, and Watts.” Property & Environment Research Center. February 2025
- “AI: How It Works & How to Work With It.” Campus Services Leadership Retreat, Tulane University. January 2025
- “Tulane Student AI Use.” NOAI New Orleans AI Conference. November 2024
- “Unlocking AI for Enhanced Productivity.” Tulane Professional Development Day. Fall 2024
- “Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Higher Education.” Tulane Compliance & Ethics Week. Fall 2024
Public Scholarship
Applied AI Literacy video course
34 videos on the CAIDS YouTube channel. 2025.
Commentary and analysis on applied AI
LinkedIn and X, @knudism.
University Service
Provost's AI Working Group
Committee on AI in the Classroom
SLAM Faculty & Budget Committee
SLAM Curriculum Committee
Committee on AI and Career Readiness
Faculty Advisor
Professional Experience
AI Strategy Consultant & Speaker
AI education and implementation consulting: workshops, executive coaching, and custom AI solutions for organizations and individuals.
Founder & CEO
Direct-to-consumer subscription e-commerce brand using data analytics for personalization.
Founder & Strategy Consultant
Data-driven strategy and marketing consulting for companies, universities, and think tanks.
Government & Party Official
Deputy Member of Parliament; President, Nordic Council of Youth; President, Liberal Student Association of Norway; Vice President, Liberal Youth of Norway.
Languages
- English: fluent
- Norwegian: native
- Swedish and Danish: advanced (listening and reading), proficient (writing)