MIT and IBM Partner to Establish $240 Million AI Research Lab

The new lab aims to tackle some of AI's greatest challenges, including cybersecurity challenges. Image: Flickr.

IBM and the MIT on Thursday revealed a new partnership to carry out fundamental and breakthrough artificial intelligence (AI) research. IBM will invest $240 million over 10 years to establish the MIT-IBM Watson AI Lab — one of the largest long-term university-industry AI collaborations to date.

According to a university statement, the collaboration aims to:

  • Advance AI hardware, software and algorithms related to deep learning and other areas;
  • Increase AI’s impact on healthcare, cybersecurity and other industries; and
  • Investigate the economic and ethical implications of AI on society.  

Both partners have been pioneers in artificial intelligence research; the university claims the term “AI” was popularized by MIT researchers. Meanwhile, IBM has explored AI applications across industries for more than 20 years.

To learn more, visit the MIT News site or watch the video below.

About the Author

Sri Ravipati is Web producer for THE Journal and Campus Technology. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Training the Next Generation of Space Cybersecurity Experts

    CT asked Scott Shackelford, Indiana University professor of law and director of the Ostrom Workshop Program on Cybersecurity and Internet Governance, about the possible emergence of space cybersecurity as a separate field that would support changing practices and foster future space cybersecurity leaders.

  • modern college building with circuit and brain motifs

    Anthropic Launches Claude for Education

    Anthropic has announced a version of its Claude AI assistant tailored for higher education institutions. Claude for Education "gives academic institutions secure, reliable AI access for their entire community," the company said, to enable colleges and universities to develop and implement AI-enabled approaches across teaching, learning, and administration.

  • AI microchip, a cybersecurity shield with a lock, a dollar coin, and a laptop with financial graphs connected by dotted lines

    Survey: Generative AI Surpasses Cybersecurity in 2025 Tech Budgets

    Global IT leaders are placing bigger bets on generative artificial intelligence than cybersecurity in 2025, according to new research by Amazon Web Services (AWS).

  • university building surrounded by icons for AI, checklists, and data governance

    Improving AI Governance for Stronger University Compliance and Innovation

    AI can generate valuable insights for higher education institutions and it can be used to enhance the teaching process itself. The caveat is that this can only be achieved when universities adopt a strategic and proactive set of data and process management policies for their use of AI.