Artificial Intelligence

Away from Washington but at the heart of critical conversations, Vanderbilt is fast becoming a national hub for security and strategy. A prime example: the 2025 Vanderbilt Summit on Modern Conflict and Emerging Threats, which brought together national and international leaders for two days of high-level dialogue April 10–11. That commitment took on new form this year with the summit’s first installment connected with the newly launched Institute of National Security. Read More

Targeting ncRNAs with drugs presents a much larger therapeutic opportunity than targeting proteins, but the currently available drug discovery tools are slow and computationally intensive. Assistant Professor of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics and core member of the Center for Applied AI in Protein Dynamics Carlos Oliver is working with collaborators to unlock the untapped potential of ncRNAs, as they are a promising family of targets for the development of novel small-molecule therapeutics. Read More

Generative AI will play a key role in three new campus projects being developed thanks to early-stage funding from the Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries’ Digital Lab. The Digital Lab’s 2025 seed grant projects will be celebrated in a public showcase this fall.  Read More

See how historian Jane Landers and her team are rescuing enslaved Africans’ stories from oblivion and honoring thousands of lives. Read More

Eleven Vanderbilt students are engaging in cutting-edge national security research through a new, dynamic partnership between Immersion Vanderbilt and the Vanderbilt Institute of National Security. This partnership emphasizes the collaborative and interdisciplinary nature of Immersion Vanderbilt and supports the Institute of National Security’s mission of developing the next generation of national security leaders. Read More

Vanderbilt Divinity School was recently awarded a $30,000 grant from the Wabash Center to study artificial intelligence and its impact. The project, “We Can Wait No Longer: Educating Theological Educators About Artificial Intelligence,” seeks to inform Divinity faculty of the mechanics behind AI and the latest advancements. Read More

A new Massive Open Online Course on the Coursera platform is teaching professionals and students how to better use artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT to improve their MATLAB programming skills and productivity. MATLAB is a specialized programming platform and language that has become the industry standard for engineers, scientists, economists, and researchers across multiple disciplines. Read More

What if AI could fight fires? The first Nashville Tech Studio grant awarded by the Nashville Innovation Alliance fosters a collaboration between the Nashville Fire Department and Vanderbilt University that will analyze data to help allocate resources, determine optimal staffing levels and even predict future incidents.   Read More

Gov. Bill Lee has appointed Vanderbilt University’s Jesse Spencer-Smith to the Tennessee Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council, which was established last year to guide the ethical and effective use of AI in the state.  Read More

See how a group of Vanderbilt student storytellers are weaving AI and imagination to inspire transformational change. Read More

Whether you’re interested in the latest updates on artificial intelligence systems like DeepSeek and OpenAI, or you simply want to investigate new and creative uses for AI, Vanderbilt’s Data Science Institute is hosting its second annual AI Days event, March 5–6. With in-person and virtual sessions planned, AI Days is open to the public and returns this year with an expanded program featuring distinguished speakers and innovative tracks. Read More

Studio in AI, taught by Bennett Landman, director of the Vanderbilt Lab for Immersive AI Translation, launched last semester and offers an immersive, hands-on experience to students looking to develop or advance independent AI projects, utilizing Python and PyTorch as primary tools. Graduate students serve as AI coaches to provide multiple levels of mentorship and guidance. Read More

The Vanderbilt Institute of National Security has launched the Wicked Problems Lab to tackle some of the toughest challenges in national security. By combining cutting-edge research with real-world expertise, the Lab develops practical, actionable solutions that bridge the gap between policy and implementation. Read More

Sam Altman, the visionary CEO of OpenAI and one of the most influential figures in artificial intelligence, is set to deliver the opening keynote at the 2025 Vanderbilt Summit on Modern Conflict and Emerging Threats. His highly anticipated address will take place on the morning of April 10, 2025. Read More

AdvancED will host an upcoming Faculty Learning Community: "Amplify Your Teaching: The Possibilities and Challenges of Generative AI in the Classroom." This dynamic learning series is tailored to help faculty explore and harness the potential of Generative AI in their teaching practices.  Read More

The lab of Hassane Mchaourab, director of the Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence in Protein Dynamics and professor of molecular physiology and biophysics, has developed a methodological blueprint that couples experimental double electron–electron resonance spectroscopy with an AI approach to help describe the conformational landscapes of a diverse spectrum of cell membrane transporters. Read More

Meiyi Ma, assistant professor of computer science at Vanderbilt, is leading research to develop what’s considered the world’s first Generative Artificial Intelligence training system for 911 call takers and dispatchers. Read More

Adam Blandin, assistant professor of economics, typically analyzes how the amount of time worked affects a person’s earnings; how family structure affects wages, employment, and equality; and the economic implications of remote work. However, recently, Blandin looked at generative AI through an economic lens and helped create the first nationally representative survey on how workers are using generative AI. Read More

Abhishek Dubey is leading a consortium comprised of several different universities and regional transit agencies that has received more than $8 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation to accelerate artificial intelligence-driven multimodal transit operations across Tennessee. Read More

To address the complexities AI poses to the nation’s economy and security, Vanderbilt University experts retired Gen. Paul Nakasone, founding director of Vanderbilt’s Institute of National Security, and Jesse Spencer-Smith, interim director of the Data Science Institute, shared crucial insights with a bipartisan group of congressional staff on Capitol Hill. Read More