The University of Southern California (USC) announced a major commitment to advancing the development and use of AI, revealing a new Center for Generative AI and Society, which will receive $10 million in seed funding.
The center addresses one of the most important questions facing our society today: how can we ensure that artificial intelligence benefits all parties? Its focus on equitable opportunities will create tangible results in how AI can be used responsibly and sustainably – proving USC’s dedication to progressing this technology without sacrificing ethics or values.
USC launches Center for Generative AI & Society, funded with $10M. The research center’s activities will include faculty and leaders in computer science, education, media, and entertainment.
Holly Willis, a professor and chair of the media arts and practice divisions at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, and Bill Swartout, a computer science research professor at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering as well as CTO for USC Viterbi’s Institute for Creative Technologies, will be co-directing The Center.
Faculty and individuals from five USC schools – Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, Rossier School of Education, Iovine and Young Academy, School of Cinematic Arts, and Viterbi School of Engineering – will participate in this activity. Moreover, participation is expected from other sectors, such as media and education.
SAG-AFTRA held a series of panels at CES in January, covering subjects such as Deepfakes and content production.
Ishwar K. Puri serves as senior vice president of research and innovation at the University of Southern California.
Ishwar K. Puri says:
“The genie is out of the bottle, and we’re not going back.”
“Our students are going to use this technology, and we need to teach them how to use it responsibly. We want to harness the power of AI for the public good.”
Puri expects that the USC researchers associated with the center will use AI technologies to tackle issues in drug discovery and create new diagnostic methods.
Ishwar K. Puri went on to say:
“We have a duty to develop solutions that are ethical and that benefit society as a whole.”
USC’s commitment to developing generative AI and its broader implications for social impact gives us a window into the direction of the AI industry. As more resources and money is poured into this area, it will ultimately benefit society. There are various avenues to explore as we look at how technologies like generative AI can affect our daily lives — from jobs to healthcare and beyond — and this hub of activity on the west coast will help facilitate that same exploration.
It is promising to see universities such as USC taking the initiative to lead in this field, given the potential long-term impact that can be achieved by combining societal advantages with ever-evolving artificial intelligence capabilities.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
