The University of South Florida made an announcement on Thursday regarding its plans to establish the first college of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity in the state. Approval from the USF board of trustees is still pending, but the proposed college would offer undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as certifications and continuing education options. The objective is to bring together current faculty members who specialize in AI, cybersecurity, and computing. According to a USF news release, approximately 200 faculty members are already conducting research in related fields. The release also highlights the increasing demand for AI skills, stating that the U. S. has witnessed a five-fold increase in this area. In addition, the National Science Foundation awarded over $800 million for AI-related research last year. In 2020, the University of Florida revealed its plan to incorporate AI into the curriculum for all graduating students, following a generous $70 million gift. USF President Rhea Law stated in the release that the demand for professionals with expertise in AI and cybersecurity is rapidly growing, along with the need for more research on how to utilize these technologies to benefit society. With their faculty's expertise and strong partnerships with the business community, the University of South Florida aims to become a global leader in these fields. A task force, comprising faculty members and the provost, has been established and is expected to release an initial report.

University officials hope to launch the college by fall 2025, although the structure and potential need for a new dean are still being explored. The task force will seek further input from faculty and other stakeholders, as stated in the release. Sudeep Sarkar, the chairperson of USF's Computer Science and Engineering department and leader of the task force, has been studying AI for 30 years since its inception. He emphasized that, like any curriculum at USF, the AI program will require constant evolution. He also mentioned that there are non-technical issues, such as ethics and privacy, that are important to consider in the social contexts where these technologies are implemented. He emphasized the need for both users and designers of AI technologies to address these issues during the design stage. USF Provost Prasant Mohapatra stated that the college will collaborate with industry partners in the Tampa Bay region and across the nation. The initial launch will involve existing faculty members who will likely maintain joint appointments in their current colleges. The university plans to begin recruiting soon, aiming to bring in 20 to 25 new faculty members. A capital campaign for a building is also on the horizon. Mohapatra emphasized that faculty members from various disciplines will be required to explore the societal impact of machine learning. He highlighted the importance of using AI ethically, as there is a risk of biases arising from the training data sets used to develop AI systems. Without proper safeguards, AI could lead to disastrous consequences, and cybersecurity efforts must protect against misuse by adversaries, according to Mohapatra. Sarkar expressed his hope that people will release their fears about AI, explaining that at USF, their goal is to unleash human potential using AI as a tool to improve various aspects of life. Divya Kumar, who covers higher education for the Tampa Bay Times in partnership with Open Campus, contributed to this report.