AI Tennessee

Positioning Tennessee as a powerhouse for AI innovation and impact

A student works in the Quantum Lab at the Advanced Materials and Manufacturing facility at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Chris Howard, HPSC account manager, pulls a server for inspection at the High Performance Scientific Computing’s ISAAC (Infrastructure for Scientific Applications and Advanced Computing) data center at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. — Chris Howard, HPSC account manager, pulls a server for inspection at the High Performance Scientific Computing’s ISAAC (Infrastructure for Scientific Applications and Advanced Computing) data center on September 30, 2025. Photo by Steven Bridges/University of Tennessee.

Innovating with Purpose

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, launched AI Tennessee to develop and deploy artificial intelligence solutions that advance the health and prosperity of communities and organizations throughout Tennessee.

Modeling Interdisciplinary Exploration

AI Tennessee taps the ingenuity and expertise of multidisciplinary communities of researchers and educators—at UT and other Tennessee colleges and universities—to serve the state’s people and organizations.

Aligning interests statewide

AI Tennessee is aligning government, industry, and academic efforts across Tennessee to ensure that AI contributes to growth in key economic sectors including nuclear energy and security, advanced manufacturing, agriculture and forestry, health care, and mobility.

RESEARCH AREAS

Dr. Karen Tobias trains veterinary surgical residents in the ala vestibuloplasty technique for brachycephalic dogs using 3D-printed nasal facsimiles in the simulation lab of the Pendergrass Library at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine.

applied ai

UT researchers explore how AI systems such as natural language processing, digital twins, and robotics are implemented and influence decision-making in real-world settings. They apply tools developed by our systems experts to improve policy, logistics, and resource management. Their work supports diverse applications, from disease detection and supply chain resilience to investment strategies and lending decisions.

Learn about Applied AI Research at UT

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.

ai for education and workforce development

UT faculty create and share tools that help students and educators engage with AI responsibly. Beyond preparing the next-generation workforce, they are leading efforts to upskill and reskill current workers. This work empowers Tennesseans of all ages, in settings from classrooms to factory floors to C-suite offices, to build the skills and competencies they need to thrive in an AI-driven world.

Learn about AI for Education and Workforce Development Research at UT

A student works in an engineering lab at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

AI for new Knowledge and discovery

AI and scientific discovery are deeply interconnected. UT researchers leverage AI to uncover new physical laws, chemical properties, and advanced materials, driving innovation in high-impact sectors like smart manufacturing. They also apply scientific principles to improve AI itself, increasing the accuracy and reliability of AI-driven automation by developing models and simulations that adhere to the physical and chemical laws governing real-world processes.

Learn about AI for New Knowledge and Discovery Research at UT

ai systems

UT researchers are advancing AI systems by developing more efficient machine learning pipelines, improving knowledge representation, and reducing energy consumption while boosting computational performance. They are designing, optimizing, and deploying new AI architectures to serve critical sectors such as transportation, manufacturing, agriculture, cybersecurity, and health care. This work includes innovations in edge computing, embodied agents, and multi–agent systems, all engineered to tackle real-world challenges and enable real-time decision-making.

Learn about AI Systems Research at UT

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, Knoxville.

Fundamentals of AI

Tackling increasingly complex real-world challenges with AI demands continued advances in foundational capabilities. Our researchers are working on the theories, hardware, software, and models that underpin neuromorphic, quantum, hybrid, and other high-performance computing systems; core investigations into the gap between machine and human intelligence; advances in deep learning and other machine learning techniques; and the development of trustworthy and explainable AI.

Learn about Fundamentals of AI Research at UT

World-Class Faculty

Our faculty represent colleges and disciplines across UT. These experts are transforming AI and its uses in the lab and in everyday applications. They are collaborating to solve complex challenges in AI theory, computing hardware, discovery-enabling algorithms, domain-specialized applications, and policy. In every field, they are driving impact.

Meet Our Faculty

As part of its cluster hire initiative, UT is recruiting faculty who share a passion for advancing and deploying AI to tackle the critical challenges facing Tennessee and the world. Visit the cluster hiring website to learn more.