Cornell University Information Science Department

Housed within the College of Computing and Information Science at Cornell University, the Initiative on AI, Policy and Practice seeks to: 1) conduct fundamental interdisciplinary research concerning the social and ethical dimensions of current and near-term applications of artificial intelligence (AI), drawing from expertise in technical, sociological, philosophical, and legal dimensions of computing; 2) nurture a vibrant and inclusive field of public interest research on AI that can sustain this work far into the future; and, 3) provide an intellectual foundation for well-grounded AI policy, practice and advocacy. The award provides flexible support to the initiative.

Cornell University’s initiative on AI in the Social Interest (the Initiative) undertakes foundational, interdisciplinary research on the social impacts of artificial intelligence (AI) in order to inform policy and practice, focusing on the potential for AI to advance—but also to imperil—core liberal values like fairness, equality, dignity, and privacy. Its core programing includes the production of academic research and public-facing policy documents such as white papers as well as workshops that seek to help ensure AI is developed and deployed in socially beneficial ways. The award provides flexible support to the Initiative.