Wayne State announces creation of the Institute for AI and Data Science

On Oct. 23, the Wayne State University Board of Governors approved the creation and charter of the Institute for AI and Data Science (AIDaS) for a period of six years. The research institute will report to Vice President for Research & Innovation Dr. Ezemenari M. Obasi.

"The creation of the Institute for AI and Data Science will play an important role in our recently launched Grand Challenges initiative," said Obasi. "Driving discovery that leverages responsible human-AI collaborations is an important part of the initiative and aligns with the goals of the institute. The research that AIDaS is leading at Wayne State will pioneer ethical AI methodologies and applications that will accelerate scientific breakthroughs and ultimately deliver community benefit."

AIDaS will create a hub for AI and data science innovation that fosters cutting-edge research, interdisciplinary collaboration, industry engagement and workforce development. It will bridge AI and data science research with real-world applications and help position Wayne State as a national leader in shaping the future of AI and data science.

"The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and data science is transforming nearly every aspect of society, from health care and transportation to finance, business and national security," said Dr. Hengguang Li, chair of mathematics in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and co-director of the institute. "The creation of AIDaS will help bring together faculty from across the university to help make major advances in AI that impact Detroit, the state and beyond."

Wayne State has numerous research programs that focus on the development of responsible human-AI collaborative systems across critical sectors, aligning with national priorities and addressing the unique needs of urban environments. AIDaS will help expand this work.

"We are pleased that Wayne State University is committed to becoming a leader in AI and data science research, education and application to maximize societal benefit," said Dr. Dongxiao Zhu, professor of computer science and co-director of AIDaS. "The university has already made significant contributions through initiatives such as the Wayne AI Research Initiative, Data Science and Business Analytics, and its Computation, AI and Data Science groups. These efforts have driven advances in machine learning, big data analytics, computer vision, natural language processing, optimization, computation and AI applications across multiple disciplines. AIDaS will be an excellent hub to foster research and collaboration that positions Wayne State to shape the future of AI and data science."