AI · 1h ago
HBCU Launches First AI Institute to Boost Literacy and Access
Siobahn Day Grady launched the Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Research at North Carolina Central University in January 2025, the first AI research institute at an HBCU. Backed by a $1 million Google.org grant, it has engaged over 2,800 students and community members. The institute aims to address the funding gap HBCUs face, receiving less than 1% of federal R&D funding.
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The institute's rapid impact highlights both the demand for AI education at HBCUs and the systemic funding disparities that make such initiatives rare.
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