NSF Adds 11 New AI Research Institutes to Its Collaborative, Nationwide Network

The National Science Foundation officially extended the reach of its National Artificial Intelligence Research Institutes across more of the United States. On the heels of funding seven institutes in 2020, the agency last week unveiled its establishment of 11 new ones--where officials will strategically pursue AI research in complex realms like augmented learning, cybersecurity, precision agriculture and more. "The expertise of the researchers engaged in the AI Research Institutes spans a wide range of disciplines, providing an integrated effort to tackle the challenges society faces, drawing upon both foundational and use-inspired research," Director of NSF's Robust Intelligence Program Rebecca Hwa told Nextgov Tuesday. "NSF has long been able to bring together numerous fields of scientific inquiry, and in this program that includes such disciplines as computer and information science and engineering, cognitive science and psychology, economics and game theory, engineering and control theory, ethics, linguistics, mathematics, and philosophy--and that has positioned us to lead in efforts to expand the frontiers of AI." In all, the 18 institutes NSF is investing in so far underpin research spanning 40 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, Hwa confirmed.