LIU already offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in AI, but the new initiative will also expand its Artificial Intelligence Competency Distinction credential — a nine-credit supplementary program offered to all students, with curriculum covering an introduction to AI tools, ethical considerations including bias and privacy, and a lab component to apply knowledge. Students in the program can work with postdoctoral mentors and use LIU’s related research labs.
“The AI² Center reflects our vision for the future of higher education, one that prepares students across every discipline to thrive in an AI-driven economy,” LIU President Kimberly Cline said in a public statement.
LIU is also investing in facilities to support AI research. Recently, the school’s Post campus broke ground on a 40,000-square-foot science building where researchers will be able to apply artificial intelligence in medicine, including development of digital organ “twins,” digital replicas of human organs used to simulate surgeries and test drugs.
As part of a partnership with software company Dassault Systèmes, another recently constructed lab facility at the university’s Brooklyn campus supports 3D design, simulation and fabrication.
According to the news release, the AI2 Center aims to advance interdisciplinary research and workforce development across disciplines.
“Artificial intelligence is not limited to one industry or one discipline. It is reshaping the future of how we live, work, research and innovate,” Mohammed Cherkaoui, senior vice president for research and AI, said in a public statement. “The AI² Center positions LIU as a national leader in preparing students with the skills, experiences and research opportunities necessary to lead in this rapidly evolving technological era.”
