The inception of a pandemic-era tool, initially bookmarked by internet browsers, gradually gained prominence by appearing on television news chyrons and being referenced in local public health updates. Surpassing 2.5 billion views, the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 dashboard’s enduring, albeit less recognized, impact lies in its role in securing substantial funding for the establishment of an artificial intelligence hub in Baltimore.
Johns Hopkins University’s significant investment in artificial intelligence is materializing in Baltimore. Recently, administrators revealed an ambitious blueprint to establish a Data Science and AI Institute at the Homewood campus, aiming to position Hopkins and the city of Baltimore as the premier hub for data science, machine learning, and AI in the nation.
The investment is anticipated to empower researchers to effectively leverage the university’s extensive reservoir of data to drive discoveries for the betterment of humanity. Denis Wirtz, the university’s vice provost for research, emphasized the wealth of valuable data at their disposal, envisioning the challenge of enhancing accessibility for researchers across diverse disciplines and communities to unlock its full potential.
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This initiative unfolds amidst the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence, following OpenAI’s introduction of the ChatGPT chatbot based on a language model about a year ago. These advancements have spurred renewed contemplation on the untapped capabilities and potential limitations of AI.
Drawing on its academic community’s expertise in data science and artificial intelligence, Johns Hopkins University has delved into diverse projects, from utilizing facial recognition software to identify strokes to predicting Major League Baseball’s most valuable player. Additionally, collaborations have uncovered biases in popular AI algorithms, shedding light on racist and sexist stereotypes. According to Wirtz, internal advocacy within the university for increased investment in these fields has been ongoing.
A pivotal moment for the university in data science occurred in January 2020 with the launch of an interactive dashboard by the Johns Hopkins Center for Systems Science and Engineering to monitor the global spread of the coronavirus. This open-source dashboard consolidated public health data on a world map, illustrating cases and fatalities as red dots scattered across countries and continents.
As the volume of data and demand surged, the university’s Applied Physics Laboratory joined the endeavor. By March, the dashboard had garnered more visits than the websites of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and The New York Times. Evolving into the Coronavirus Resource Center, it became a comprehensive repository of raw data and expert analyses spanning various disciplines.
Inspired by the success of this project, administrators aim to replicate such collaborative initiatives in data science and artificial intelligence on a larger scale university-wide. The triumph of the dashboard serves as a compelling example to engage potential donors.
University representatives have not disclosed the exact funding allocation for the Data Science and AI Institute or its sources. However, the scale of the project, encompassing the construction of two new facilities on the Homewood campus and the recruitment of 110 new faculty and professors, indicates a substantial overall investment.
An international search is underway to appoint a permanent director for the institute. In the interim, KT Ramesh, the university’s senior advisor for AI, and Rama Chellappa, a prominent figure in the AI field, serve as co-directors. The institute aims to centralize various ongoing data science and artificial intelligence projects across the university, fostering collaboration and innovation.
Efficiency, standardized practices, and enhanced safeguards are anticipated benefits of the centralized hub, reinforced by the diverse expertise of affiliated faculty. The recruitment includes 80 faculty positions under the Whiting School of Engineering and 30 Bloomberg Distinguished Professors known for their interdisciplinary expertise.
The institute’s establishment is poised to introduce new academic programs as early as the upcoming fall semester, attracting attention from academics nationwide. Incoming professor Louis Hyman, known for his work in labor, economics, and business history, expresses enthusiasm for Hopkins’ forward-looking approach in embracing AI’s potential.
While not directly linked to the institute, Hyman plans to offer a course on artificial intelligence for history next semester. He envisions the institute as a catalyst for interdisciplinary collaboration and anticipates the diverse opportunities it could offer researchers across various fields.
The success of the initiative is envisioned through significant discoveries, innovative tools, and impactful inventions that could potentially influence public policies for the nation’s benefit.
The creation of a hub excites Wirtz the most, as it signifies Hopkins’ versatility across a myriad of AI applications, ranging from writing and gaming to medicine and public health. While the university gained global recognition for its COVID dashboard, it is now establishing a broader reputation for multifaceted advancements in data science and artificial intelligence.
“We’re not a one-trick pony,” Wirtz affirmed. Join us in celebrating the journey ahead.
