The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has announced plans to create a college of computing that will address challenges presented by the prevalence of computing and the rise of artificial intelligence.
The school says the MIT Stephen A. Schwarzman College of Computing will be an interdisciplinary hub for work in computer science, artificial intelligence (AI), data science, and related fields.
Officials say the $1 billion commitment to its initiative marks the largest investment in computing and artificial intelligence by an American academic institution.
Major support for establishing the college has been provided by a $350 million foundational gift from Schwarzman, the chairman, CEO and co-founder of Blackstone, a global asset manager.
The college will create 50 new faculty positions—both within the college and jointly with other departments across MIT — nearly doubling MIT’s academic capability in computing and artificial intelligence.
"The MIT Schwarzman College of Computing will constitute both a global center for computing research and education, and an intellectual foundry for powerful new AI tools," says MIT President L. Rafael Reif. "Just as important, the College will equip students and researchers in any discipline to use computing and AI to advance their disciplines and vice-versa, as well as to think critically about the human impact of their work."
MIT expects the college to open in September 2019. Plans call for a new building to be constructed for the college; it is scheduled to be completed in 2022. Officials have not yet determined where on the Cambridge, Mass., campus the new facility will be built, and an architect has not been selected.
[MORE: FAQ on the MIT Stephen A. Schwarzman College of Computing.]
In addition to Schwarzman’s gift, MIT has raised an additional $300 million, accounting for $650 million of the $1 billion required for the college.
YouTube video from MIT:
