TL;DR:
- Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) has received a $20 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to establish the AI Institute for Societal Decision Making (AI-SDM).
- The AI-SDM aims to create human-centric AI tools to assist with critical decision-making in areas like disaster management and public health.
- MITRE researchers will lead the institute’s research into AI-assisted decision making and address factors affecting AI adoption, such as ethics and transparency.
- A recent survey found that most Americans do not trust AI beyond streaming service recommendations.
- MITRE will help transition the AI-SDM’s research products and identify national decision-making challenges.
- The AI-SDM includes experts from various institutions and will collaborate with public health departments, emergency management agencies, and more to enhance decision making.
- The partnership between CMU and MITRE is crucial for achieving a national impact in AI research and adoption.
Main AI News:
Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) has received a $20 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to establish the AI Institute for Societal Decision Making (AI-SDM). The AI-SDM will focus on developing human-centric artificial intelligence (AI) tools to aid in decision-making related to pressing societal challenges, such as disaster management and public health. The institute will also offer interdisciplinary training to improve response times in dynamic and uncertain situations.
As one of seven new institutes created by the NSF with a $140 million investment aimed at boosting collaborative research in the US, the AI-SDM aims to drive discovery and ensure the country stays at the forefront of the global AI revolution. The institute’s research will address both controllable and non-controllable factors that affect AI adoption, including ethics, risk, equity, and transparency. To this end, MITRE researchers Paul Lehner and Ozgur Eris will lead research into the adoption of AI-assisted decision making by individuals and organizations that make consequential decisions, as well as the general public.
A recent MITRE-Harris Poll survey found that most Americans do not trust AI beyond recommendations on streaming services, and only 48% believe the technology is safe and secure. This finding demonstrates the importance of the AI-SDM and its research.
MITRE will help transition the AI-SDM’s research products while conducting foundational research on AI adoption. The organization will leverage its unique position as an operator of federally funded research and development centers to articulate national decision-making challenges that align with the institute’s goals. Additionally, it will identify transition paths to federal government operations for lasting national impact.
The AI-SDM brings together experts from renowned institutions such as Harvard University, Boston Children’s Hospital, Howard University, Penn State University, Texas A&M University, University of Washington, Navajo Technical University, and Winchester Thurston School. This diverse group of AI researchers and social scientists will collaborate with various stakeholders including public health departments, emergency management agencies, nonprofits, companies, hospitals, and health clinics. Their collaboration aims to enhance decision-making processes by leveraging AI technology.
Aarti Singh, the Director of the AI-SDM and a professor in CMU’s School of Computer Science, emphasizes the critical role of a partnership with MITRE in achieving a national impact. With access to key federal-level stakeholders, MITRE will play an instrumental role in facilitating the adoption of AI technologies by decision makers. Additionally, MITRE’s expertise positions them well to develop an extensive repository of historical and current AI use cases, enabling the study of factors governing AI adoption and the interplay between humans and AI.
Conlcusion:
The establishment of the AI Institute for Societal Decision Making (AI-SDM) by Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and the involvement of MITRE researchers in leading the research efforts signify a significant development in the market. The focus on creating human-centric AI tools for critical decision-making in areas like disaster management and public health demonstrates a growing recognition of the potential of AI in addressing pressing societal challenges. The emphasis on addressing factors affecting AI adoption, such as ethics and transparency, also reflects a market that is increasingly concerned with responsible and accountable AI implementation.
Additionally, the collaboration between academic institutions, government agencies, and various organizations highlights the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in driving innovation and improving decision-making processes. These developments indicate a market that is actively seeking to leverage AI technologies for societal benefit while prioritizing ethical considerations, creating opportunities for businesses to contribute to the advancement of AI solutions in a responsible and impactful manner.
