Written By Lexx Thornton
One of North Carolina’s historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) is taking another step to become a national leader in artificial intelligence (AI) education by adding tech giant OpenAI to its roster of partners.
North Carolina Central University (NCCU) in Durham announced a partnership with OpenAI through the university’s Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Research (IAIER).
Students now have access to OpenAI Academy, a program featuring virtual and in-person events and workshops to enhance students’ AI literacy and use.
“It deepened my understanding of AI workflows, enhanced my research, and sparked creativity,” Shantel Riddick, an integrated biosciences doctoral student, said in a press release. “The OpenAI Academy workshop also reinforced integrity-driven AI use — skills I’ll carry throughout my academic career.”
The partnership doesn’t stop there — the duo plans to host new workshops, developer training, and events for HBCUs nationwide in the fall and explore research projects and investments in ethical AI innovation.
The institute plans to offer interdisciplinary courses, research, and mentorship in several initiatives, including:
- AI and social equity
- AI and cybersecurity
- Data-driven AI for social good
- AI in biomanufacturing and health sciences
- AI and assistive technologies
IAIER’s 5,000-square-foot building is in development and will be completed this year. The institute itself, which launched this January, is set to impact 200 students in the first two years and is backed by $1 million from Google.org, Google’s charitable organization. Alongside Google and OpenAI, the institute’s other partners include Cisco, the Museum of Life + Science, IBM, and FICO.
NCCU opened a $38 million business school building a little over one year ago. The building includes a business innovation lab featuring AI, 3D printers, virtual reality, and other emerging technologies.
“The greatest advantage students have today is the ability to learn and experiment,” Ronnie Chatterji, chief economist at OpenAI, told students at an event.
“Use your time in school to explore your interests, discover your strengths, and connect with professors across disciplines. Aligning what you’re good at with what you enjoy will set you up for success, whether in AI or another field.”
