New GVSU West Michigan Trustworthy AI Consortium receives $1.03M in federal support

U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten was joined by Grand Valley leaders on Feb. 18 to announce more than $1 million in federal support for a university initiative that will unite faculty experts and partners in industry and the public sector to design responsible, trustworthy AI systems. 

The $1.03 million in support will help establish GVSU’s new West Michigan Trustworthy AI Consortium, which will operate in the College of Computing as part of the university’s Blue Dot ecosystem. Scholten said the support for the Consortium’s computing resources, software, licensing and other operations is part of more than $11 million in federal funding she worked to secure for projects making significant investments in West Michigan. 

“West Michigan should be leading the way in how artificial intelligence is developed and used, and that starts with investing in people and institutions we trust,” said Scholten. “This funding will help GVSU bring together educators, industry, and public partners to build AI systems that are ethical, secure and transparent while preparing students for good-paying jobs and strengthening our region’s economy. I’m proud to support this work and to continue delivering federal investments that ensure West Michigan remains at the forefront of responsible innovation.” 

Grand Valley President Philomena V. Mantella said this initiative furthers Grand Valley’s leadership in advancing West Michigan’s tech sector and beyond by optimizing partnerships with businesses and the community to create a talent pipeline that makes an immediate impact.  

Mantella noted that most Lakers stay in Michigan after graduation, helping propel the state forward and contributing to GVSU’s $3 billion annual economic impact on the state . 

“The West Michigan Trustworthy AI Consortium is just one example of the power of our Blue Dot ecosystem,” Mantella said. “By bringing expert researchers, resources and industry partners together to work with our students, Grand Valley will explore ethical ways to harness AI to enrich our lives and build a brighter future for our country.” 

Marouane Kessentini, dean of GVSU’s College of Computing, said this distinctive emphasis on human-centered AI issues such as cybersecurity and ethics will uniquely position graduates for careers in the field. The work of the West Michigan Trustworthy AI Consortium, including the advancement of applied research, will ensure Grand Valley and West Michigan play a key role in shaping the future of AI and meeting the emerging needs of the technology.  

“The West Michigan Trustworthy AI Consortium represents a commitment to doing artificial intelligence the right way,” Kessentini said. “At a time when AI is rapidly transforming our economy and society, this initiative focuses on building AI systems that are responsible, transparent, secure and worthy of public trust.” 

The West Michigan Trustworthy AI Consortium is designed to align with and operationalize Trustworthy and Responsible AI priorities as established by the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). 

The Consortium will convene stakeholders across academia, industry, government, and the nonprofit sector to lead cutting-edge research, enable knowledge sharing, and build a pipeline of professionals trained in AI governance, safety, security risk management and compliance. 

The Consortium also will develop frameworks for AI governance aligned with NIST’s Risk Management Framework and U.S./global regulations. 

Remarks from announcement of federal funding for West Michigan Trustworthy AI Consortium

GVSU in the news about federal funding for the new West Michigan Trustworthy AI Consortium

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