Photos courtesy of Michigan Technological University Vinh Nguyen supervises the Institute of Computing and Cybersystems at Michigan Technological University.

HOUGHTON — The Institute of Computing and Cybersystems at Michigan Technological University announced the launch of its Center for Artificial Intelligence last month.

The center will be housed within the ICC and supervised by Vinh Nguyen, a professor of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics and Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology.

As the A.I. Center’s director, Nguyen will push cutting-edge research in A.I. development and application. He also aims to prepare a new generation of A.I. professionals and establish partnerships outside of the center in an effort to address modern problems. 

“The accelerated advent of A.I. presents exciting opportunities and challenges for society,” Nguyen said in a recent press release from Michigan Tech. “The Center for A.I. is the culmination of Michigan Tech’s research and education in fields including computing, transportation, manufacturing, sustainability, humanities and health. Hence, Michigan Tech’s Center for A.I. is our premier research center to provide A.I. solutions for today’s evolving world.”

The center hosts 30 faculty members and $12.8 million worth of research and projects. There are over 80 students involved, and more than 700 publications from members of the center. 

The Center for Artificial Intelligence is the progression of the ICC’s Data Science Center, but with a new focus on leading A.I. research across various domains. By tapping into the University’s strengths in engineering and computing, the center’s goal is to dive into innovative research, collaborate across various disciplines, build lasting partnerships, and provide education on artificial intelligence. According to their website, the center is also committed to “preparing a new generation of A.I. professionals by offering cutting-edge educational programs and professional development activities to promote ethical and trustworthy development and usage of A.I.” 

The use of artificial intelligence has exploded in the last few years. Many social media apps, such as Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook, have welcomed A.I. into their platforms. What was once an enthralling aspect of science fiction movies is now openly accessible to the public.

Despite the leaps and bounds technology has made in regards to A.I., there has been some major pushback, especially against programs like ChatGPT. ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence program that can do anything from generating a recipe for French toast to writing a complete thesis-driven essay.

Due to security concerns, several companies have banned the use of ChatGPT. Samsung, Amazon and many others do not allow their employees to use ChatGPT for business purposes. They fear it could leak sensitive info, including confidential data and customer information. Many universities are also struggling to keep up with the advancements of A.I. as they scramble to generate policies on the use of artificial intelligence in coursework. Some have even gone so far as to build their own version of ChatGPT for faculty and students to use, including the University of Michigan. A few months before their Fall 2023 semester began, the university introduced U-M GPT, their generative A.I. tool that hosts up to 16,000 users a day.