Accelerating Imagination

Accelerating Imagination: the ‘front door’ to IU’s AI, data science research

Accelerating Imagination will bring together some of the university’s top researchers and resources in artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, and data science to make IU the leading partner for human-centered AI research, education, and workforce development efforts that improve Indiana and the world.

The initiative will be supported by an IU executive committee focused on the ethical application of human-centered AI, high-performance computing, and technology research in Indiana and beyond. It will draw upon the university’s multidisciplinary research expertise, including IU’s pioneering large-scale data digitization efforts used by researchers all over the world and nationwide leadership in high-performance computing.

Members of the Accelerating Imagination executive committee

David Crandall, Luddy Professor of Computer Science; Director, Luddy Artificial Intelligence Center
Joanna Millunchick, Dean, Luddy School
Kosali Simon, Herman B Wells Endowed Professor and Paul O’Neill Chair in the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs; Associate Vice Provost for Health Sciences
Ash Soni, SungKyunKwan Professor, Dean Emeritus, and Professor of Operations & Decision Technologies, Kelley School of Business

In the news

Celebrating IU’s leadership in human-centered artificial intelligence

Learn more about how IU continues to lead the way in AI-based initiatives in President Whitten's weekly blog.

Accelerating Imagination initiative opens door to IU’s AI, high-performance computing resources

Read the official announcement of the Accelerating Imagination initiative.

Read the release

A student edits code at the new Luddy AI Center.

Education and Outreach

The initiative will catalyze collaboration among IU’s AI researchers and those from partner institutions; enhance the external visibility and impact of IU research and inspire new collaborations; and advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in AI through education and outreach.

In addition to educating IU students about AI through courses in areas as varied as the arts, education, privacy, and machine learning, multidisciplinary teams of IU researchers are already using AI to enhance K-12 education.

AI Goes Rural

IU is developing AI curricula with middle school STEM teachers for implementation in rural areas.

NSF AI Institute

IU is part of an effort to transform STEM teaching and learning through AI-driven, story-centered learning.

Images from the March 2023 launch of the Luddy AI Center. Ethan Gill, Office of the Provost

Campus and community partners

Accelerating Imagination unites expertise and resources from the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering and the new Luddy Artificial Intelligence Center; IU Libraries; IU Research; IU Information Technology; and dozens more interconnected, interdisciplinary areas that can offer IU partners a suite of applicable AI services that can be translated from one context to another.

The AI initiative will also expand partnerships with a wide range of industries throughout the state, including NSWC Crane; scale up strengths in social and behavioral sciences, business, and arts and humanities on the Bloomington campus; and accelerate IU’s entrepreneurship and commercialization efforts.

External partners and IU faculty are encouraged to contact Crandall about potential collaborations at luddyai@indiana.edu.

Accelerating Imagination