SU launches Institute for Artificial Intelligence amid influx of AI programs

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Syracuse University is launching a new Institute for Artificial Intelligence bringing together AI-focused researchers across campus, according to a Friday release.

The institute will unite researchers from four schools — the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, the School of Information Studies and the Newhouse School of Public Communications. The institute’s goal is to advance the science and application of AI, according to the release.

Paulo Shakarian, a KG Tan Endowed Professor of AI at ECS, has been appointed director of the institute.

“We’re building a research community that is equipped to tackle AI’s hardest technical problems alongside its societal implications,” Shakarian said in the release. “We envision a future of resilient AI systems that lead to high impact applications.”

The institute is organized around four aspects of AI’s impact: AI and security, multidomain intelligence, AI in socio-cognitive dynamics and AI for governance and policy. Those four aspects will be explored on campus and through program-hosted events.

Federal research agencies and industry partners will support the institute’s research with collaboration and funding, according to the release.

Two events run by the newly formed institute include a Washington, D.C. workshop on military multi-domain decision making sponsored by the United States Army, and a symposium on artificial metacognition in Arlington, Virginia.

SU’s AI degrees aim to responsibly prepare students for evolving job market

As part of its “larger AI push,” Syracuse University is introducing three new AI degree programs, all available to students this fall.

Johannes Himmelreich, a professor of public administration and international affairs, will serve as associate director and executive committee vice chair.

Disciplines represented include applied AI, machine learning, AI hardware and AI in governance and policy. 18 professors and faculty have already joined the institute as associate and executive members.

Passion Moore, a former senior manager at Arizona State University, and Heather Macknik, assistant director of undergraduate admissions and recruitment at SU, have both assumed leadership roles at the institute.

The formation of the group comes amid SU’s new AI Academic Portfolio, which has seen an addition of 10 new artificial intelligence majors and minors across the university.

SU has also invested heavily in AI student bootcamps, and the institute will support and create research opportunities for United AI, SU’s student organization focused on the technology.

The Institute for AI is located on the second floor of Hinds Hall, and recently launched its own website to view AI events and workshops.

“Syracuse has unique expertise in AI with world-class researchers,” the website reads. “We envision a future of resilient AI systems that lead to high impact applications.”