UB’s AI momentum continues

The speed and scale at which artificial intelligence is accelerating and converging with nearly every discipline at UB is allowing the university to help shape the future of AI — from the breadth of research to hastening new discoveries to integrating AI as a “partner” for teaching and learning.

That’s the big picture from Venu Govindaraju, senior vice president for research, innovation and economic development, who shared with the UB Council an overview of the AI-momentum gaining at UB. He emphasized UB’s national prominence at the center of AI education, research and responsible application.

“UB is essentially leading and shaping the future of AI and not just reacting to it,” said Govindaraju, whose role was recently expanded to include AI and other emerging fields. “And I think we’re doing it in a very responsible and thoughtful manner.”

During the Dec. 15 council meeting, Govindaraju provided a snapshot of the quickly evolving AI landscape at UB. He said the university is:

• On the leading edge. UB is No. 1 when it comes to federal dollars for AI in education, he said. Its new Department of AI and Society is among the first of its kind. Backed by New York State and the Empire AI consortium, UB is top tier among universities when it comes to academic computing power. And UB’s National AI Institute for Exceptional Education is one of only 29 such institutes in the nation.
• Addressing the public good. Whether it’s the treatment of chronic wounds or accelerating drug discovery or delving into microelectronics, AI-driven research at UB has real-world impacts, Govindaraju said. “And these projects span all the funding federal agencies — NIH, NSF DOD, DOE and so on,” he said. UB has more than 120 research projects ready to run on Empire AI systems, he added.
• Gaining national recognition. Govindaraju noted a recent New York Times article on AI that mentioned only four universities nationwide that have created AI degree programs, including UB. Science Magazine also quoted Govindaraju about how faculty are leveraging AI and the new supercomputer capabilities at UB to accelerate research and shrink discovery times.
• Tracking progress. A new Office of AI Innovation and Integration will help track and coordinate AI developments across campus. “This office is going to give us a bird’s eye view so that things could be coordinated, so that the excellence that is in different silos essentially doesn’t remain in silos,” Govindaraju said.
• Connecting quantum science. UB has created a new Quantum Institute that it will pair with the university’s AI momentum. Quantum science explores how matter and energy behave at the smallest scales and serves as the foundation for most modern technologies. “If you look at various universities, very few can claim the kind of depth we have in AI and the convergence of AI and quantum that we are discussing and investing in,” Govindaraju said.
• Integrating the classroom. UB is looking at AI tools that provide personalized help to students, while faculty are reimagining courses with AI in mind. “Instead of saying, ‘AI is giving you a shortcut’ or ‘Using AI is cheating,’ we’re moving toward, ‘Let’s use AI responsibly. Let’s make critical choices. Let’s do the reflection,’” Govindaraju said.

“So, the approach is moving from AI as a tool to AI as a partner for thinking.”

Also at the council meeting, President Satish K. Tripathi provided some highlights of his State of the University address in October, in which he described the impressive reputation-building accomplishments of UB faculty, students and staff over the past 15 years. Provost A. Scott Webber also mentioned several recent faculty honors and significant federal research grants awarded to UB scholars.

In other matters, the council endorsed two naming resolutions for two gifts of more than $1 million each:

• The Medicinal Chemistry Fund and the Kurt E. Merkel, PhD Professorship in Medicinal Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences.
• The Mary E. Fracassi Alzheimer’s Research Fund in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.