The Ohio State University launches transformative AI hub

The Ohio State University launches transformative AI hub

New initiative will drive research, discovery and disruption

Artificial Intelligence is reshaping the world at breakneck speed, and The Ohio State University is at the forefront of this transformation with the launch of the AI^(X) Hub at The Ohio State University, or AI to the power of X. This university-wide hub will span 15 colleges and unlock the exponential possibilities that emerge when AI is fused with expertise across six strategic pillars (X): foundations, health, engineering and sciences, agriculture, cybersecurity and trustworthy AI.

The launch follows President Walter "Ted" Carter Jr.'s State of the University address earlier this month, in which he announced details of his Education for Citizenship 2035 strategic plan. Leadership in AI is a key pillar of Carter's plan, part of his vision for the university to achieve a new level of academic excellence.

"With the launch of the AI^(X) Hub, Ohio State is not just embracing the future - we are creating it. The hub will be a catalyst for groundbreaking research and transformative innovation in artificial intelligence," Carter said. "Together, we are empowering our faculty, researchers and students to harness AI for the public good and develop solutions to the world's most pressing challenges."

The AI^(X) Hub will equip researchers with advanced tools and expanded capabilities to drive innovation and accelerate discovery. Specifically, it is designed to:

• Build a brain trust for AI: Create a cutting-edge research space - a dynamic intellectual hub where domain experts and AI scientists converge to solve complex problems and spark high-impact innovation.
• Provide scalable shared infrastructure: Develop robust data/model commons integrated with cutting-edge computing clusters to democratize access to high-performance computing and curated datasets for rapid advances across all disciplines from medicine, science and engineering to the social sciences and humanities.
• Forge a vibrant AI ecosystem: Accelerate collaboration between researchers, entrepreneurs and industry leaders to streamline the path from discovery to deployment, bringing ideas from the lab into the real world.
• Deliver AI-powered solutions: Advance products and services from medical diagnostics to sustainable agriculture that fuel economic growth and create lasting societal benefits.

"The launch of AI^(X) Hub is a natural evolution of the university's commitment to artificial intelligence," said Ravi V. Bellamkonda, Ohio State executive vice president and provost. "This new hub will serve as a dynamic catalyst - connecting faculty, staff and students, accelerating innovation, and ensuring Ohio State remains a leader in shaping the future of ethical and impactful AI."

Led by Ness Shroff, Ohio Eminent Scholar and internationally recognized expert in AI and networking, the hub positions Ohio State as a global leader in both foundational and translational AI research. From decoding disease to building resilient autonomous systems, the AI^(X) Hub will cultivate an innovation ecosystem where cross-disciplinary synergies fuel breakthroughs with profound societal impact.

"The AI^(X) Hub is designed to be a dynamic engine for research and innovation, connecting Ohio State's world-class research community with partners around the world to power discovery, drive interdisciplinary collaboration, and ensure we are shaping the future of AI through bold ideas, shared expertise and meaningful impact," said Shroff, a professor in the departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Computer Science and Engineering.

AI^(X) Hub builds on the university's commitment to excellence in artificial intelligence, advancing the university's role as a national leader in AI-driven discovery, education and societal impact. As part of these efforts, Ohio State launched AI Fluency, which is embedding AI education into the core of the undergraduate academic experience, equipping students with the ability to not only use AI tools, but to understand, question and innovate with them -no matter their major.

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