Artificial Intelligence

Winners from the latest cycle of the Ignite Tech Development Grant have been announced, showcasing the diverse potential of emerging learning technology innovation. This year’s competition attracted a strong and diverse applicant pool from across Vanderbilt’s schools and all academic levels, from undergraduates to faculty. The winning proposals focus on learning that spans the spectrum from math to empathy to AI ethics. Read More

As AI usage grows, so too does the energy demand on AI-related infrastructure. Experts in energy and energy policy discussed the environmental ramifications during the 2025 Vanderbilt AI Symposium. Read More

In this conversation with Vanderbilt Magazine, Dean Matthew Johnson-Roberson discusses his vision for the new College of Connected Computing, the integration of AI across disciplines and why “connected computing” represents the future of technology education. Read More

RESEARCH SPARK: AI is becoming a common tool for Human Resources departments. Learn from new faculty Salvatore Falletta about the ethical lines between creepy AI analytics creative decision making. Read More

The role of artificial intelligence in drug discovery has been limited by machine learning methods that fail when they encounter chemical structures they weren’t “trained” on. Assistant Professor Benjamin Brown has written a paper suggesting a more targeted approach: using a task-specific model architecture that’s intentionally restricted to learn from a representation of the interaction space between a protein and a drug molecule and be better able to generalize and figure out which compound might best interact with that protein. That’s important, because identifying those compounds early cuts the costs and time involved in developing drugs. Read More

Political propaganda and artificial intelligence–driven misinformation are infiltrating social media accounts, and Americans need to do something about it. That’s the warning revealed in research from two Vanderbilt professors and discussed on this special episode of the Quantum Potential podcast. Read More

RESEARCH SPARK: Get to know Shekhar Bhansali, new head of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and his vision for AI engineering education. Read More

Vanderbilt University has joined the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance, aiming to address middle Tennessee’s growing technology talent demand, with particular emphasis on artificial intelligence and cloud computing skills. The program offers faculty from area universities access to content for their courses related to AI, cloud development and cybersecurity as well as access to experiential learning opportunities for their students. Read More

The Human Language Analysis Lab directed by H. Andrew Schwartz, which just moved to Vanderbilt’s new College of Connecting Computing, is running a key part of the annual worldwide artificial intelligence test, SemEval, which will evaluate how well current AI text systems understand human emotion. Read More

By Jennifer Kiilerich Generative AI is ubiquitous these days, but its use tends to raise as many questions—from practical to ethical—as it answers. A Vanderbilt website launched this spring, the Peabody Hub for Mindful AI Innovation, provides a space for users to take a breath and… Read More

In a new white paper sponsored by the Vanderbilt AI Law Lab (VAILL) and Vanderbilt Private Climate Governance Lab (PCG), Vanderbilt researchers spotlight two innovative tools they built to accelerate research into climate adaptation policy and AI regulation. Read More

Vanderbilt University has established the Enterprise AI and Computing Innovation Studio, a groundbreaking collaboration between VUIT, the Amplify Generative AI Innovation Center and the Data Science Institute. Read More

Vanderbilt researchers uncovered evidence of a Chinese government-linked AI propaganda campaign, revealing unprecedented scale and precision in influence operations. The work reflects the university’s growing role in addressing urgent global security challenges.  Read More

Jack Noble, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, is working with clinical colleagues to develop and validate an augmented reality vision guidance system to help surgeons place cochlear implants more precisely. The guidance system leverages emerging artificial intelligence technology and uses inexpensive, commonly available equipment, making it practical for many operating rooms. Read More

Vanderbilt researchers have received a $1.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation to develop a smart microscope system that uses artificial intelligence to help scientists better understand how cells behave, particularly in diseases like cancer. Read More

Vanderbilt University and Nissan Motor Corporation have joined forces to pursue strategic projects in data science and beyond. The partnership is expected to unlock significant value and identify potential cost savings of over $70 million for Nissan. Read More

Away from Washington but at the heart of critical conversations, Vanderbilt is fast becoming a national hub for security and strategy. A prime example: the 2025 Vanderbilt Summit on Modern Conflict and Emerging Threats, which brought together national and international leaders for two days of high-level dialogue April 10–11. That commitment took on new form this year with the summit’s first installment connected with the newly launched Institute of National Security. Read More

Targeting ncRNAs with drugs presents a much larger therapeutic opportunity than targeting proteins, but the currently available drug discovery tools are slow and computationally intensive. Assistant Professor of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics and core member of the Center for Applied AI in Protein Dynamics Carlos Oliver is working with collaborators to unlock the untapped potential of ncRNAs, as they are a promising family of targets for the development of novel small-molecule therapeutics. Read More

Generative AI will play a key role in three new campus projects being developed thanks to early-stage funding from the Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries’ Digital Lab. The Digital Lab’s 2025 seed grant projects will be celebrated in a public showcase this fall.  Read More

See how historian Jane Landers and her team are rescuing enslaved Africans’ stories from oblivion and honoring thousands of lives. Read More