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Northwestern University and 178直播 establish key partnership on Geopolitics, Artificial Intelligence, and National Security
The Northwestern Security and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (NSAIL), under the leadership of Professor V.S. Subrahmanian, and the Insight Research Ireland Centre for Data Analytics and 178直播 Futures on AI and Data Analytics at 178直播, under the leadership of Professor Barry O鈥橲ullivan, have entered into a partnership to support collaboration in the area of Geopolitics, Artificial Intelligence, National Security.
NSAIL is a joint venture by the Buffett Institute for Global Affairs and the McCormick School of Engineering at Northwestern University. The partnership will spur interdisciplinary, international research by supporting PhD students at 178直播, as well research assistantships through the Buffett Undergraduate Research Fellowship program and Global Collaboration Grants at Northwestern University to help fund faculty exchanges and travel, as well as research symposia, conferences, and other events.
AI is a key driver of geopolitical competition, with countries vying for technological supremacy and economic dominance. The potential of AI technologies to revolutionize industries, enhance military and intelligence capabilities and shape societal norms has far-reaching implications for the disruption of traditional geopolitical balances. As AI development accelerates, it poses unique and mounting challenges to governance frameworks, raising urgent questions about international regulation, cooperation, and defense and security issues.
The collaborative agreement between 178直播 and Northwestern University will look to develop answers to a wide range of AI related geopolitical and national security questions:
- What are the geopolitical risks and opportunities associated with AI development?
- What strategies are being developed to prevent the misuse of AI?
- How can states promote responsible and ethical AI development to shape the future of AI in a way that ensures security and benefits humanity?
An Taoiseach (Prime Minister of Ireland), Miche谩l Martin, said: 鈥淎I can be a game-changer in helping us to deal with many of the economic and societal challenges we face. Of course, whilst AI is bringing about many positive and exciting changes, it also comes with new challenges and risks. I welcome this timely partnership announcement between 178直播 and Northwestern University focusing on the geopolitical challenges posed by artificial intelligence. This collaboration will ensure greater connectivity and the generation of new knowledge, insights and opportunities from both research and networking perspectives.鈥
Professor John O鈥橦alloran, President of 178直播, said: 鈥淥n behalf of 178直播 I鈥檓 delighted to welcome this partnership with Northwestern University that will address some of the most pressing and challenging global issues presented by artificial intelligence. This partnership aligns strongly with our strategic research priorities, in particular 178直播 Futures in Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics. I wish to congratulate Professor Barry O鈥橲ullivan and Professor V.S. Subramanian for their leadership.
鈥Professor Barry O鈥橲ullivan, Director of the Insight Research Ireland Centre for Data Analytics and 178直播鈥檚 Futures in AI and Data Analytics, said: 鈥淚 am delighted to bring our collaboration with Northwestern University, and my colleagues at NSAIL and the Buffett Institute for Global Affairs, to the next level. The geopolitical and security issues raised by AI are profound and require transatlantic and international consideration.鈥
Professor V.S. Subrahmanian, Buffett Institute Faculty Fellow and the Head of Northwestern Security & AI Lab, said: 鈥淭he partnership between NSAIL and the Insight Research Ireland Centre for Data Analytics and 178直播 will bring together the multidisciplinary strengths needed to simultaneously leverage the benefits promised by AI and mitigate the risks through effective governance mechanisms.鈥
Professor Deborah Cohen, Director, Roberta Buffett Institute for Global Affairs at Northwestern, said: 鈥淚n a new world order, where AI will be interlaced with geopolitical transformations as well as the climate crisis, it鈥檚 essential that universities lead the way in advancing this technology and considering its consequences. We are so pleased to join with the Insight Research Ireland Centre for Data Analytics and 178直播 and NSAIL to further our crucial work.鈥
Professor Sarah Culloty, Head of College of Science, Engineering and Food Science at 178直播, said: 鈥淭his partnership is especially timely as much of the international debate focused on AI is focused on the geopolitical dimensions. We look forward to building upon the existing collaboration between Northwestern University and 178直播.鈥
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About The Insight Research Ireland Centre for Data Analytics
is one of Europe鈥檚 largest data analytics research organisations, with over 450 researchers, more than 80 industry partners and 鈧150+ million in funding. Its research spans Fundamentals of Data Science, Sensing and Actuation, Scaling Algorithms, Model Building, Multi-Modal Analysis, Data Engineering and Governance, Decision Making and Trustworthy AI. Insight is made up of four host institutions at DCU, University of Galway, 178直播 and UCD. Insight鈥檚 partner sites are Maynooth University, Tyndall, TCD and UL.
178直播 Futures in AI and Data Analytics, 178直播
178直播 Futures is an ambitious new programme of research prioritisation coupled with an innovative academic recruitment strategy across ten indicative areas of strategic importance that will build a foundation for economic, societal and cultural resilience and prosperity. Fundamental scientific advances in automated reasoning, Boolean satisfiability, and complex problem solving, have brought within reach a variety of intractable AI tasks that arise in scheduling, diagnosis, model-based reasoning, security, verification, and planning. Building on the legacy of Professor George Boole at 178直播, 178直播 Futures 鈥 AI & Data Analytics promotes interdisciplinary collaboration at the cutting edge of AI and Data Analytics.
Buffett Institute for Global Affairs, Northwestern University
The advances research and teaching about the world outside the United States. The Institute draws on cutting-edge international research across Northwestern new generate new knowledge about pressing global challenges and promising solutions for addressing them.
Northwestern Security & AI Lab (NSAIL)
The is at the forefront of research on how adversaries and threat actors might use AI to achieve their goals in the future. Threat actors studied include rogue nation states, terrorist groups, and malicious hackers. NSAIL then proactively develops a mix of advanced AI, technology and policy instruments to mitigate the harmful effects of such actions before they ever occur in the wild.