$70 million AI partnership with NVIDIA: FICS Research faculty, Dr. Damon Woodard, will lead training

The University of Florida today announced a public-private partnership with NVIDIA that will catapult UF’s research strength to address some of the world’s most formidable challenges, create unprecedented access to AI training and tools for underrepresented communities, and build momentum for transforming the future of the workforce.

The initiative is anchored by a $50 million gift — $25 million from UF alumnus Chris Malachowsky and $25 million in hardware, software, training and services from NVIDIA, the Silicon Valley-based technology company he cofounded and a world leader in AI and accelerated computing.

Along with an additional $20 million investment from UF, the initiative will create an AI-centric data center that houses the world’s fastest AI supercomputer in higher education. Working closely with NVIDIA, UF will boost the capabilities of its existing supercomputer, HiPerGator, with the recently announced NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD™ architecture. This will give faculty and students within and beyond UF the tools to apply AI across a multitude of areas to improve lives, bolster industry, and create economic growth across the state.

The effort is led by HWCOE faculty member Dr. Damon Woodard. UF will also partner with these institutions to provide training in AI.

We interviewed Dr. Damon Woodard on what he is currently working on:

What are you currently working on? Recent papers or news?

I am currently working on multiple problems that involve the use of artificial intelligence to solve problems related to national security. For example, one of my projects involves using natural language processing to establish the authorship of online text. I am involved in multiple projects within FICS, which involve using machine learning and computer vision to identify items that may compromise hardware security, such as integrated circuit and printed circuit board trojans and counterfeit electronics. Finally, I am currently investigating the capabilities and limitations of automated methods of detecting DeepFakes (images and videos created by artificial intelligence methods). I do not have any recent news to share at this time.

Do you do any technical work for your recent $70m AI partnership?

No, the announcement was for my leadership role within the university’s AI initiative, so I do not have any technical work related to this.

$70 million AI partnership with NVIDIA: FICS Research faculty, Dr. Damon Woodard, will lead training

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