A Year in Experiential AI Milestones

"In 2023, OpenAI and ChatGPT might have grabbed all the headlines, but the most meaningful developments in AI quietly unfolded behind the scenes, at the intersection of business and research. At the Institute for Experiential AI, we seized on numerous opportunities to train, advise, and guide organizations in this uncertain climate.

From The State of AI in Maine in January to a special workshop on Generative AI ("From the Classroom to the Economy") in April to our October business conference, Leading With AI Responsibly, to our research focus areas on AI + Life Sciences, AI + Health, and AI for Climate and Sustainability (AI4CaS), we created a space where researchers and business leaders could come together to discover real solutions to real problems, free from hype and focused on significant impact. Looking back now, it’s interesting to see how closely our own milestones corresponded with the top stories of the day."

-  Usama Fayyad, Executive Director

JANUARY

• Microsoft announces $10 billion investment in OpenAI, maker of ChatGPT.
• The Institute kicks off the year welcoming more than 800 leaders at the The State of AI in Maine event co-hosted with the Roux Institute for a day of AI learning.
• The Institute for Experiential AI explores the new research focus area: AI + Life Sciences.

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FEBRUARY

• Social media company Meta releases LLaMA, a LLM and research generator.
• Four Institute researchers take a deep dive into social media algorithms, and potential fixes.

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MARCH

• ChatGPT-4 launches, is incorporated into Microsoft Bing and sparks hype and chaos. ‍
• In the AI Loop newsletter launches with an inaugural issue looking at “The Truth About ChatGPT.”

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APRIL

• Google, Amazon, Elon Musk, and Boston Dynamics add to the growing AI headlines with new ventures and chatbots.
• ‍At “Generative AI: From the Classroom to the Economy,” Northeastern leaders discuss the fast-changing world of generative AI.
• The Institute hosts experts for a special webinar exploring AI for financial services companies.
• ‍In the AI Loop asks, “Why Do We Need Responsible AI?”

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MAY

• Geoffrey Hinton, a “Godfather of AI,” leaves Google, warning of AI’s “existential risk.”
• ‍The Institute hosts another “Godfather of AI,” Yann LeCun from Meta, to discuss and dispel the hype, chaos and confusion around AI.
• In the AI Loop takes a close look at the importance of Responsible AI in business.

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JUNE

• Mayo Clinic partners with Google Cloud to transform healthcare with generative AI.
• ‍The Institute officially launches its AI + Health research focus area.
• The Institute announces a Healthcare Solutions Grant Program for early-stage  companies.
• ‍In the AI Loopdives deep into health sensing technology and AI ethics.

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JULY

• The White House secures pledges from Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, others to develop safe, secure, and transparent AI technology.
• ‍Institute leaders, researchers react to the White House AI pledge.
• The Institute launches its Corporate Membership Program to help organizations harness the power of AI, responsibly.
• ‍In the AI Looplooks closely at the intersection of AI, climate, and the insurance industry.

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AUGUST

• China becomes the first country to enact a generative AI law. ‍
• In the AI Loop checks in on the state of the hype behind generative AI.

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SEPTEMBER

• UK antitrust regulators establish principles to prevent domination of the AI industry by a handful of companies. ‍
• In the AI Loopexplores upcoming "Leading with AI, Responsibly" programming.
• The Institute launches its newest research focus area, AI for Climate and Sustainability (AI4CaS).
• Northeastern University receives $17.5 million grant from CDC to develop infectious disease forecasting center with the help of AI.

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OCTOBER

• The Biden administration issues an executive order (EO) establishing AI rules and guidelines.
• ‍Institute experts assess the pros and cons of the AI EO. ‍
• ‍The Institute hosts AI leaders from industry and academia for "Leading with AI, Responsibly" workshop, business conference and career fair.
• ‍In the AI Loopexplores insights shared by leaders at Google, Intuit, Harvard, Fidelity about how they are innovating with AI

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NOVEMBER

• The Sam Altman, OpenAI and Microsoft drama causes widespread uncertainty.
• ‍In the AI Loop asks Institute leaders for their thoughts on the White House EO.
• The Institute hosts computer science pioneer Stephen Wolfram for a talk and fireside chat at Northeastern University.

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DECEMBER

• Amidst increasing attention on the importance of data proficiency, CDO Club holds the first-ever Chief AI Officer Summit.‍
• ‍The Institute joins CDO Club to present the Chief AI Officer Summit and Chief Data Officer Summit, both at Northeastern.
• The Institute co-hosts “Data Literacy at Scale” with Harvard Data Science Initiative, aimed at creating a more data literate society.