Today, the Kogod School of Business (Kogod) at American University (AU) announced that it joined more than 200 of the nation’s leading artificial intelligence (AI) stakeholders to participate in a Department of Commerce initiative to support the development and deployment of trustworthy and safe AI. Established by the Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the U.S. AI Safety Institute Consortium (AISIC) will bring together AI creators and users, academics, government and industry researchers, and civil society organizations to meet this mission.
"We, the Kogod School of Business at American University, are thrilled to join the NIST AI Safety Institute Consortium, recognizing it as a vital step towards shaping a future where AI is developed with the utmost attention to safety, ethics, and societal impact,” said Gwanhoo Lee, Chair of the Department of Information Technology and Analytics (IT&A) at Kogod. “This partnership aligns with our commitment to fostering innovative, responsible, and sustainable business practices. Together, we look forward to contributing our unique expertise in AI and analytics, helping to ensure that AI technologies not only advance industry frontiers but also uphold the highest standards of safety and ethical integrity. We are excited to collaborate with fellow consortium members, leveraging this opportunity to bridge the gap between cutting-edge AI research and practical, responsible business applications."
Joining the consortium is just the latest in a string of Kogod activities to promote AI as both a learning tool and as a learned skill. The school is working to incorporate AI into teaching and research in every department by Fall 2024. At the 35th annual Ann Ferren Conference held at AU in January 2024, more than half of the sessions addressed AI opportunities and risks—and university president Sylvia Burwell led a panel dedicated to AI. Kogod is also hiring more faculty with AI expertise; Ankit Shah joins the IT&A department with a specialty in AI and cybersecurity, and Yitong Wang joins with a specialty in AI and customer engagement. Kogod’s inclusion in the consortium will further its aims to instill AI discipline among its students and to drive cutting-edge research among its faculty.
The consortium includes more than 200 member companies and organizations that are on the frontlines of developing and using AI systems, as well as the civil society and academic teams that are building the foundational understanding of how AI can and will transform our society. These entities represent the nation’s largest companies and its innovative startups; creators of the world’s most advanced AI systems and hardware; key members of civil society and the academic community; and representatives of professions with deep engagement in AI’s use today. The consortium also includes state and local governments, as well as non-profits. The consortium will also work with organizations from like-minded nations that have a key role to play in setting interoperable and effective safety around the world.
The full list of consortium participants is available here.
ABOUT KOGOD SCHOOL OF BUSINESS:
American University's Kogod School of Business, established in Washington, DC, more than 60 years ago, aims to equip and empower its community to use business as a force for meaningful change. Kogod graduates are leaders on Wall Street and in the corporate world, but also work for non-profits, government agencies and social-service organizations. Washington, DC, serves as a laboratory for learning through work, internships, and other forms of experiential education. Kogod is the oldest accredited business school in Washington, DC The school is accredited by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International), which represents the highest standard of achievement for business schools worldwide.
ABOUT AMERICAN UNIVERSITY:
American University leverages the power and purpose of scholarship, learning, and community to impact our changing world. AU’s faculty, students, staff, and alumni are changemakers who shape the future from sustainability to social justice to the sciences. Building on our 129-year history of education and research in the public interest, we say ‘Challenge Accepted’ to addressing the world’s pressing issues. Our Change Can’t Wait comprehensive campaign creates transformative educational opportunities, advances research with impact, and builds stronger communities.