The University of South Carolina (USC) is preparing to roll out a series of Artificial Intelligence-powered technologies aimed at improving the student experience and streamlining campus operations ahead of the 2026-27 academic year.
The new initiatives span digital identity, parking, dining, retail and autonomous delivery, reflecting the university’s wider strategy to simplify everyday campus services while improving operational efficiency.
One of the most significant developments is the introduction of the Mobile CarolinaCard, launching in autumn 2026. Students, faculty and staff will be able to use a smartphone or smartwatch instead of a physical identification card to enter buildings, pay for meals, access CarolinaCash, borrow library books and use campus printing services.
USC is also modernising parking through its ParkUSC+ mobile application, which uses Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to predict parking availability in real time. By analysing historical parking patterns alongside crowdsourced and geofenced movement data, the platform estimates occupancy levels to help drivers locate available spaces more efficiently. The university expects the system to become increasingly accurate as more data is collected.
To further improve parking services, USC is introducing a 24-hour AI-powered telephone assistant capable of answering questions about permits, citations, visitor parking, shuttle services and transport, while escalating more complex issues to university staff.
Dining services are also being enhanced through AI-enabled occupancy sensors that anonymously analyse wireless signals to estimate how busy dining halls are before students arrive. The technology does not use cameras or collect personally identifiable information.
Meanwhile, USC is expanding its fleet of autonomous food delivery robots, which use computer vision, onboard sensors, Machine Learning and Edge Computing to navigate campus safely while reducing delivery times.
The university also plans to introduce cashier-less convenience stores in 2027, using computer vision, AI-powered inventory management and predictive analytics to automate purchases, improve stock availability and reduce waste.
