MIT President Sally Kornbluth and Provost Cynthia Barnhart last year issued a call for papers with the aim of developing effective strategies, policy recommendations, and calls to action in the field of generative artificial intelligence (AI). The response was overwhelming, with a total of 75 proposals submitted. Out of these, 27 were selected for seed funding.
Due to the overwhelming and enthusiastic response, Kornbluth and Barnhart announced a second call for papers during the fall. The second call garnered 53 submissions. The faculty committee from the first round reviewed these proposals and selected 16 for exploratory funding. The selected papers were co-authored by interdisciplinary teams belonging to all five of MIT’s colleges and the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing.
The selected research groups will each receive between $50,000 and $70,000 to create 10-page impact papers. The papers will then be distributed widely through a publication venue administered and hosted by the MIT Press, under the auspices of the MIT Open Publishing Services program.
With the first round of papers, Thomas Tull, a member of the MIT School of Engineering Dean’s Advisory Council and a former innovation scholar at the School of Engineering, contributed funding to support the project.
The selected papers vary greatly in topic, ranging from the application of generative AI in areas such as privacy, physical sciences, visual intelligence, art, human interaction, urban planning, textile engineering, biomedical innovation, and the creative economy. The papers also explore the role of generative AI in live music performances, language studies, providing support for the aging population, and its impact on visual artists.
The fact that the call for proposals received a larger-than-expected response, with papers being drafted by faculty members from all five schools, highlights the growing interest in generative AI. This interdisciplinary field has serious potential for innovation and advancement in multiple sectors. Given the breadth of the topics covered, it is evident that generative AI could be a powerful tool for shaping the future. The financial support provided to facilitate this research emphasizes the commitment to academia in driving these progressive developments.
