NSF Unveils AI-Driven Materials Institute at Cornell University
Cornell's new NSF-funded institute will revolutionize materials research through AI.
Key Points
- • NSF and Intel invest $20 million over five years in Cornell's AI Materials Institute.
- • Institute led by Eun-Ah Kim aims to integrate AI for sustainable energy and advanced technologies.
- • Collaboration includes researchers from Cornell, Princeton, and CUNY.
- • AI-MI to develop a cloud-based platform for enhancing materials research.
- • Educational initiatives are planned to prepare students for careers in AI and materials science.
The National Science Foundation (NSF), in partnership with Intel, has announced a groundbreaking investment of $20 million over five years to establish the Artificial Intelligence Materials Institute (AI-MI) at Cornell University, designed to transform materials research through the integration of artificial intelligence (AI).
Under the direction of Professor Eun-Ah Kim, the AI-MI seeks to expedite the discovery of new materials necessary for advancements in sustainable energy, quantum technologies, and high-performance electronics. The initiative will involve collaboration among researchers from multiple institutions, including Cornell's various colleges as well as Princeton University and the City University of New York (CUNY).
The institute aims to shift the paradigm of materials discovery from serendipitous findings to intentional design, utilizing AI to analyze extensive datasets, including those generated by the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS). Kavita Bala, Cornell provost, noted that the institute's efforts could significantly accelerate research in key areas such as quantum computing and sustainable energy.
The NSF AI-MI is one of five newly established institutes, sharing in a substantial $100 million investment by the NSF, focused specifically on enhancing materials science. Brian Stone, acting NSF director, emphasized the critical role of AI in improving workforce capabilities and U.S. competitiveness in the global arena.
A focal point of the institute’s strategy is the development of the AI Materials Science Ecosystem (AIMS-EC), which will serve as a collaborative cloud-based portal. This platform will integrate a large language model with targeted scientific data, facilitating innovative research efforts. The AI-MI is also committed to enriching educational opportunities for students, aiming to cultivate the next generation of professionals at the crossroads of AI and materials science by partnering with high schools and universities.
Co-principal investigator Kilian Weinberger remarked on the necessity of creating specialized AI systems to address challenges that general models like ChatGPT face in scientific applications. Darrell Schlom, a materials science expert, expressed confidence that the use of AI will significantly shorten the time frames required for optimizing the synthesis of quantum materials, pointing to a promising future for research in this innovative domain.