Top Artificial Intelligence Stories at WPI

15 recent stories that will shape the future of AI research and innovation
Driven by our founding principle of putting knowledge into practice to help others, WPI is leading the charge in studying how this transformative AI technology can create a better future for all.
Here, we've selected 15 stories that highlight our university's achievements and leadership in the field. This list is by no means exhaustive.

Welcomed first cohort of students in brand-new AI master’s program.
After the public’s reaction to ChatGPT revealed a critical need for AI expertise and leadership, WPI developed and launched a new AI master’s degree in record time.
With concentrations available across 13 disciplines, the curriculum is designed to meet immediate workforce demands and shape the next wave of tech leaders and innovators.

Appointed to Gov. Healey’s artificial intelligence strategic task force.
President Grace Wang was named to a new task force to study AI and its impact on Massachusetts residents, businesses, colleges, and universities. Wang joins 24 other task force members from industry, education, and government.
Gov. Healey created the task force with the goal of leveraging AI in key economic sectors in the state, including education, healthcare, life sciences, robotics, and financial services.

Studied how to make autonomous systems like self-driving cars safer.
Kevin Leahy, an assistant professor of robotics engineering, is developing a method for training machine learning networks in a way that can guarantee safety in applications where safe decision-making is critical (e.g., self-driving cars).
Leahy presented his research at the International Conference on Machine Learning (ICML) in Vienna, Austria.

Developed AI to make math tutoring accessible for all middle school students.
WPI computer science professor Neil Heffernan is developing an AI-powered math tutor for students who have fallen behind in class but cannot afford private tutoring services.
Heffernan’s project is funded by the DOE’s Institute of Education Sciences.

Hosted Women in Data Science conference with focus on AI and healthcare.
WPI hosted the sixth annual Women in Data Science (WiDS) Central Massachusetts Conference, where Elke Rundensteiner, founding head of WPI’s data science program, gave the opening and closing remarks.
Erin Solovey, associate professor of computer science at WPI, moderated a dynamic panel of women researchers, engineers, and scientists who discussed the intersection of AI and healthcare.

Used AI to model traumatic brain injuries for more accurate concussion diagnoses.
Songbai Ji, a biomedical engineering professor at WPI, is leading the first lab to ever use AI in the field of brain injury biomechanics. The group is using artificial neural networks and deep learning to develop a multiscale model of traumatic brain injuries, which will lead to more accurate and efficient concussion diagnoses in the future.
Ji presented this work at the Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering (CMBBE) 2024 Symposium in Vancouver, Canada.

Uncovered human biases and discrimination in algorithms.
Roee Shraga, assistant professor of computer science and data science, was awarded an NSF grant to study the implicit biases of the humans who build AI platforms.
Implicit biases can influence algorithms, resulting in undetected or unintended discrimination.

Demonstrated how AI can enhance learning for Gen Z and Gen Alpha students.
Hosting an exclusive session for engineering educators, two WPI faculty presented their vision for the future role of AI in STEM education.
John McNeill and Koksal Mus demonstrated that AI, if used properly, can amplify the benefits of project-based learning while meeting the demands of digital natives.

Received prestigious award for leadership in AI pedagogy.
A WPI team’s innovative study on generative AI pedagogy was recognized at the annual conference of the POD Network, the world’s oldest and largest educational development organization.
The study examined faculty’s complex perceptions of generative AI, assessed common pitfalls in critical AI literacy, and positioned centers for teaching and learning as leaders of AI pedagogy on campus.

Created comprehensive “AI toolbox” for academic research and writing.
Laura Roberts, assistant teaching professor at WPI, created a toolbox that provides clear guidelines and best practices to help faculty and students figure out which AI tool to use and when.
The toolbox includes a list of 48 AI tools and recommendations for using AI effectively and responsibly. Roberts was invited to present it at multiple conferences around the country.

Used machine learning to identify opportunities for economic development.
Rob Kruger, head of social science and policy studies, is leading a project that will use machine learning to sort through mountains of data and identify solutions to poverty in low- and middle-income communities.
Kruger’s project will focus on economic development in Egypt, Kenya, and Paraguay.

Expanded AI expertise across campus through knowledge-sharing initiatives.
Faculty experts conducted a micro-course on critical AI literacy for faculty aimed at demystifying AI and its surrounding ecosystem.
Staff experts led an interactive “starter guide” session to boost WPI staff’s proficiency and familiarity with generative AI technologies.

Explored AI and AR in architectural design education.
Architectural Engineering Assistant Professor Shichao Liu is leading a project to develop and test augmented reality (AR) models empowered by generative AI for effectiveness in architectural design studios.
Liu’s research will test whether AI-empowered AR tools can successfully support rapid prototyping and idea exploration—something current AR tools cannot do.

Advanced edge computing resources for AIoT devices.
Tian Guo is co-leading a collaborative research project that will study how heterogeneous edge computing resources can better support Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) devices. Currently, computational resources are a limiting factor for AIoT devices.
Guo is joined by researchers from University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Investigated how AI can be used to disrupt illegal wildlife trafficking.
Kyumin Lee, professor of computer science at WPI, and Renata Konrad, a professor in The Business School, are studying how AI can be used to physically identify protected species and mine online trafficking networks for information.
This work is part of a four-year, $2M research grant in partnership with Florida International University and the University of Maryland.