Old Dominion University launched a hands-on AI literacy initiative intended to connect students, faculty, and industry around real-world AI use cases. Through a partnership with Google Public Sector, ODU introduced MonarchSphere, an AI incubator designed to support AI-enabled education practices. The move comes as campuses continue to grapple with how to translate “AI literacy” beyond general awareness into curriculum-linked skills. Separately, reporting and analysis continue to show that educators and students remain cautious about real utility. One account frames the key classroom question as “what can I actually use this for,” reflecting friction between AI tool capabilities and instructional readiness—an issue that will increasingly shape institutional AI policy, procurement, and professional development priorities.