Cornell University is launching an initiative to examine how artificial intelligence affects society, with postdoctoral fellowships, visiting practitioners and a proposed universitywide minor.
Humanities, Social Sciences + AI will be administered by the College of Arts and Sciences in Ithaca. Its first year is supported by the Cornell AI Initiative and a gift from John Josephson and Carolina Zapf, according to the university.
Cornell did not announce a dollar amount for the support. The effort focuses on social, political, ethical, cultural and economic questions surrounding AI, alongside opportunities for teaching and research.
Fellowships and visiting practitioners
The initiative will support five postdoctoral fellows for up to two years. Fellows will conduct interdisciplinary research and teach undergraduate and graduate students. Applications are due Nov. 15.
A Distinguished Visitors and Practitioners-in-Residence program will bring five or six people from industry, government, civil society and cultural or creative fields to campus for one- or two-week visits.
Visitors will give public talks, lead workshops or seminars, advise researchers and collaborate with faculty and students.
Entrepreneur and Cornell alumnus Paul Graham was the first visitor during the week of Oct. 26. His visit included a talk on starting companies and a faculty forum, Cornell said. Graham co-founded Viaweb and the startup accelerator Y Combinator.
AI and Society minor under development
A universitywide AI and Society minor is being developed as another part of the initiative. Cornell's announcement does not describe it as an already approved program accepting students.
The initiative also plans an annual symposium, research workshops, professional development for postdoctoral fellows and outreach.
Arts and Sciences Dean Peter John Loewen described the effort as bringing humanities and social sciences perspectives to questions about AI. Areas of inquiry include governance, ethics, communication, creativity, work and social organization.
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