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On Monday, October 15, the Massachusettes Institute of Technology announced a new $1 billion commitment to “address the global opportunities and challenges presented by the prevalence of computing and the rise of artificial intelligence.”
According to MIT, the Stephen A. Schwarzman College of Computing will be the main part of this new initiative, which was made possible due to a $350 million donation from Stephen Schwarzman, the chairman, CEO and co-founder of Blackstone.
The construction of the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing will be the most significant structural change to the university since the early 1950s. Additionally, as a result of the new school, 50 new faculty positions will be created.
Here is what the Stephen A. Schwarzman College of Computing will do, via MIT:
- reorient MIT to bring the power of computing and AI to all fields of study at MIT, allowing the future of computing and AI to be shaped by insights from all other disciplines;
- create 50 new faculty positions that will be located both within the College and jointly with other departments across MIT — nearly doubling MIT’s academic capability in computing and AI;
- give MIT’s five schools a shared structure for collaborative education, research, and innovation in computing and AI;
- educate students in every discipline to responsibly use and develop AI and computing technologies to help make a better world; and
- transform education and research in public policy and ethical considerations relevant to computing and AI.
MIT President L. Rafael Reif released the following statement about the new Stephen A. Schwarzman College of Computing:
“As computing reshapes our world, MIT intends to help make sure it does so for the good of all. In keeping with the scope of this challenge, we are reshaping MIT. 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.
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. With uncommon insight and generosity, Mr. Schwarzman is enabling a bold agenda that will lead to a better world. I am deeply grateful for his commitment to our shared vision.”
The Stephen A. Schwarzman College of Computing is scheduled to open in September 2019 with the construction of a new building for the school scheduled to be completed in 2022.
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