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Alexis McCraw, 3rd year Phd student in Experimental Psychology, uses computer games to stimulate a minor’s brain waves in the Attention, Brain, and Cognition Lab in the Austin Peay Building at the University of Tennessee

AI Tennessee Initiative

A new research and education initiative focused on the State of Tennessee’s unique AI strengths and opportunities.

Led by UT, this Initiative is engaging with academic, industry, and community partners across Tennessee to leverage the benefits of AI across all disciplines and economic sectors in areas such as smart manufacturing, climate-smart agriculture and forestry, precision health and environment, future mobility, and AI for science. Our goal is to make life and lives better through AI research and education.

This initiative is just getting started, so stay tuned for more developments. If you are interested in partnering in the AI Tennessee Initiative, please reach out to ai_tennessee@utk.edu.

Mission

Icon of a computer chip with multiple circuits.
Advance cutting-edge research and creative activity across all disciplines at their intersections with AI

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Expand the number of Tennessee students developing skills and/or core competencies in AI across many disciplines to prepare them for AI-enabled jobs of today and the future

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Partner with industry and institutions statewide to position Tennessee as a national and global leader in the data-intensive knowledge economy

Graduate students prepare an autonomous car for testing on a temporary track in the Zeanah Engineering Complex at the University of Tennessee.

“
Through research, workforce development, and industry partnerships, we empower students, professionals, and industries to drive innovation and shape a future of opportunity for Tennessee and the nation.”

—Vasileios Maroulas, associate vice chancellor and director of the AI Tennessee Initiative


Tennessee’s Digital Economy

Tennessee aims to be a leader in the data-intensive knowledge economy, and is poised for growth in AI, with its largest metropolitan areas demonstrating AI leadership potential. AI-related jobs in Tennessee are in demand in nearly every sector of the economy. AI-focused collaborations between universities and industry, government, and nonprofits have more than doubled over the past two decades (AI Index Report 2022), an indicator of the growing interest in AI and its role in society.

Recent News

Xueping Li, Professor and Dan Doulet Faculty Fellow in Industrial and Systems Engineering; and Bing Yao, Dan Doulet Early Career Assistant Professor, Industrial and Systems Engineering outside the John D. Tickle Engineering Building at the University of Tennessee Collaboration Between UT and UTMC Could Revolutionize Breast Cancer Diagnosis  UT researchers are using artificial intelligence to stage breast cancer diagnoses more quickly.
J. Wesley Hines, Postelle Professor and Chancellor's Professor, speaks with Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter while taking a tour of the Zeanah Engineering Complex and Department of Nuclear Engineering at the University of Tennessee. State Leaders Explore Economic Impact of UT Research TNECD Commissioner Stuart McWhorter learned more about UT research in a June 26 visit.
Charles Liu, associate professor of business analytics and statistics, leads a research session with his students in Stokely Management Center at the University of Tennessee. University of Tennessee Faculty Use Artificial Intelligence to Solve Problems In and Outside the Classroom  Researchers are harnessing AI to deliver practical solutions to real-world challenges. 

Read more AI news

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