The University of Washington (UW) is rolling out an initiative – dubbed AI@UW – aimed at advancing artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies across the university.
AI@UW will support work in AI, machine learning, and related areas of computing. The university said the initiative will strengthen the university’s activities in education, research, administration, and governance related to AI.
The effort is funded by a $10 million gift from philanthropists Charles and Lisa Simonyi and led by Noah A. Smith, the Amazon professor of machine learning in the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering. Smith will become vice provost for AI and, pending approval by the UW Board of Regents, the inaugural Charles and Lisa Simonyi endowed chair for AI and emerging technologies.
“The UW’s people are already leading the way in shaping universities in the time of AI,” Smith said in a statement. “While its rapid rise has been surprising, as an AI researcher and teacher I’m energized by the chance to promote AI literacy, explore how AI can enrich learning across disciplines and help steer AI’s development in ways that are most useful to the University’s mission.”
In the near term, AI@UW will support a SEED-AI grant program to fund faculty-led projects that explore the use of AI in educational activities across disciplines. The funding also will support an AI governance committee, student scholarships, community engagement, and investments in computing resources and equipment.
Lisa Simonyi is chair of the UW Foundation Board. Charles Simonyi is a technical fellow at Microsoft and a longtime supporter of the university.
