Amazon commits $25 million to a decade-long AI research and education initiative, partnering with the University of Washington, the University of Tsukuba, and NVIDIA, aiming to foster innovation and talent in the US and Japan.
Catalyzing AI Innovation Through Collaboration
Amazon has embarked on a significant investment in artificial intelligence (AI) research and education, announcing a $25 million collaboration with the University of Washington, the University of Tsukuba, and technology giant NVIDIA. This investment, part of a broader $110 million initiative, is designed to spur AI innovation and workforce development in both the United States and Japan.
A Decade of Support for AI Excellence
The partnership, which was officially announced at a ceremony at the US Department of Commerce, will span ten years and encompass a variety of programs. These include funding for AI research, fellowships for post-doctoral and PhD candidates, undergraduate summer research opportunities, and entrepreneurship bootcamps. This initiative is expected to reshape the AI research landscape by leveraging the collective expertise of academic, industry, and government entities.
Expert Collaboration to Advance AI
Rohit Prasad, Amazon’s senior vice president and head scientist for artificial general intelligence, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, highlighting the world-class AI and computing research conducted by the University of Washington and the University of Tsukuba. The partnership aims to unite experts from various sectors and disciplines to accelerate AI research and cultivate the next wave of AI talent and entrepreneurs.
Amazon and NVIDIA: A History of AI Advancement
Amazon’s long-standing partnership with NVIDIA, which has spanned over 13 years, has been foundational in advancing AI technology. With Japan’s tech industry on the rise, Amazon’s January 2024 announcement of a $15 billion investment in Japan’s cloud infrastructure underscores its commitment to driving digital transformation.
Promoting Ethical AI Practices
In 2019, Amazon launched the Programme on Fairness in AI in collaboration with the US National Science Foundation, a $21 million initiative aimed at promoting fairness and responsibility in AI. This program has funded 34 university-led teams, contributing to the development of ethical AI practices.
Bridging Academia and Industry
Amazon’s technology programs, such as the Amazon Scholars initiative and the AWS Public Sector Cloud Credit for Research, are designed to empower academics to seamlessly transition between academia and industry, furthering the company’s investment in the future of AI research and education.
