The University of Southern California (USC) has announced a near-billion-dollar initiative to advance the field of computing and artificial intelligence (AI). Dubbed Frontiers of Computing, the sweeping initiative is the university’s most ambitious undertaking to date and will significantly impact the realm of digital literacy for all current and future students. Spearheaded by USC President Carol L. Folt, the initiative is made possible by a $260 million donation from the Lord Foundation of California and heavily emphasizes research as well as educational development in the field of computing.
The initiative will launch a new USC School of Advanced Computing, which is currently under construction and set to debut in Fall of 2024. The new school will be headquartered in a seven-story, 116,000 square-foot building known as the Dr. Allen and Charlotte Ginsburg Human-Centered Computation Hall. The project aims to bring in dozens of new faculty in the first three years, who will be dedicated to advancing work in computer science, AI, machine learning, data science, augmented/virtual reality, robotics, gaming and blockchain.
In addition to advancing research, the Frontiers of Computing will emphasize education and ethics to fully prepare students for an increasingly tech-intensive world. Courses have already been added and more are in development to supplement existing programs offered to students in science, business, the humanities and the arts. USC aims to spark new advances in technology, as well as responsible policy-making and ethical considerations.
This initiative speaks to USC’s long-standing mission to be a leader in tech and provides students, researchers and community members alike with a unique chance to develop cutting-edge, future-facing skills. USC has long been a major provider of tech talent and this endeavor will strengthen the university’s influence on technology-oriented industries, expand the university’s presence in Silicon Beach and provide students with the tools they need to interact with the world favorably. By pushing the boundaries of computing into a new era, USC Frontiers of Computing and its accompanying buildings, faculty and classes will prove itself to be an invaluable asset to students, researchers and the larger Southern California community.
