Stanford University Launches the Institute for Human-Centered AI

Stanford University launched the Institute for Human-Centered AI (HAI) to advance artificial intelligence (AI) research, education, policy, and practice to improve the human condition.

Professor of philosophy and former Stanford University provost, John Etchemendy and professor of computer science and former director of the Stanford AI Lab, Fei-Fei Li will lead HAI.

HAI will become the most recent addition to Stanford’s existing interdisciplinary institutes that harness Stanford’s collaborative culture to solve problems that sit at the boundary of disciplines, including economic and international policy, environmental issues, physics and space, and the life sciences among others.

Executive Opinion

Stanford President Marc Tessier-Lavigne said, "Now is our opportunity to shape that future by putting humanists and social scientists alongside people who are developing artificial intelligence. This approach aligns with Stanford’s founding purpose to produce knowledge for the betterment of humanity. I am deeply thankful to our supporters who are providing foundational funding for the institute, which is a critical element for our vision for the future of Stanford University.”

Standford Institute for Human-Centered AI (HAI)

The newly formed institute will work closely with companies across sectors, including technology, financial services, health care, and manufacturing. This will help them create a community of advocates and partners at the highest level.

Stanford HAI expects to become an interdisciplinary, global hub for AI learners, researchers, developers, builders and users from academia, government and industry, as well as policymakers and leaders from civil society who want to understand AI’s impact and potential, and contribute to building a better future, noted the announcement.

HAI will further partner with other organizations like AI4All, AI100, AI Index, Center for AI Safety and the Center for the Study of Language and Information. The institute will have 200 participating faculties from all seven schools at the university and plans to hire at least 20 new faculties, including 10 junior fellows. The new hiring will be from the fields of humanities, engineering, medicine, the arts or the basic sciences, with a particular interest in those working at the intersection of disciplines.