CMU and NVIDIA to Lead Joint Research Center for Robotics, Autonomy & AI
Center will be part of new NVIDIA AI tech community in Pittsburgh
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Carnegie Mellon University, in collaboration with NVIDIA and the University of Pittsburgh, is part of a first-of-its-kind NVIDIA AI tech community in Pittsburgh to advance the city’s robotics, autonomy and artificial intelligence innovation ecosystem.
The initiative was launched Oct. 14 during a ceremonial signing at the AI Horizons Summit(opens in new window) with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, CMU President Farnam Jahanian(opens in new window), Pitt Chancellor Joan Gabel and Anthony Robbins, federal vice president at NVIDIA.
“We need to lean into innovation and adapt to the changing tech environment while we continue to educate ourselves about new technology — that’s why last year, I signed an executive order to govern the use of generative artificial intelligence and take advantage of the opportunities this new technology presents to ensure our commonwealth approaches gen AI responsibly and ethically,” said Shapiro. “When I signed that executive order, I also announced that my administration was partnering with Carnegie Mellon University, one of Pennsylvania’s leading generative AI research institutions, to leverage the expertise we have in Pennsylvania on generative AI usage. Building on that collaboration, the NVIDIA AI Tech Community is an example of how Pennsylvania is working to bring industry leaders together to minimize the risks and maximize the benefits of artificial intelligence. With strong institutions like NVIDIA and Carnegie Mellon, Pennsylvania is continuing to lead the nation in responsible, ethical uses of generative artificial intelligence.”
The academic foundation of the NVIDIA AI Tech Community will be two new joint research centers established in Pittsburgh. CMU will lead a center focused on robotics, autonomy and AI; the University of Pittsburgh will lead a center focused on AI and intelligent systems to advance computational opportunities across the health sciences.
Through its joint research center, CMU researchers will be able to collaborate with an embedded NVIDIA “solutions architect” to leverage NVIDIA’s full-stack AI platform, software and computing expertise and gain early access to new technologies that could advance their research.
It will enhance the university’s existing deep knowledge and resources in machine learning, programming, data analysis, design, physics and math, which has made CMU a world center for AI for more than half a century.
"AI and robotics are transforming society and reshaping markets and industries at a truly unprecedented scale and pace, and with its many innovation assets, the Pittsburgh region is uniquely positioned at the center of this transition," said Jahanian. "This exciting partnership will further accelerate that leadership, bringing together NVIDIA’s expertise in cutting-edge technologies with Carnegie Mellon University’s pioneering AI research to unlock groundbreaking solutions across public and private sectors, including in energy, transportation, manufacturing, healthcare, and more. This partnership aligns with Governor Shapiro’s ambitious economic development plan for the Commonwealth and will further catalyze a future where AI and emerging technologies bring new economic opportunities and enhanced quality of life for all."
Pittsburgh start-ups and local software companies will also gain access to the technologies and training resources needed to fuel growth through NVIDIA’s AI Tech Community initiative. NVIDIA will increase engagement with its NVIDIA Inception(opens in new window) program for AI startups and NVIDIA Connect(opens in new window) program for software development companies and service providers.
For example, Skild AI(opens in new window), a startup founded in 2023 by CMU professors Deepak Pathak(opens in new window) and Abhinav Gupta(opens in new window), is developing a scalable robotics foundation model, Skild Brain, that can easily adapt across hardware and tasks. Skild AI is exploring NVIDIA technology that allows developers to design, simulate, test and train AI-based robots and autonomous machines.
NVIDIA is also collaborating with technology accelerators like Innovation Works(opens in new window) and the Pittsburgh Robotics Network(opens in new window), which supports the commercialization of robotics, autonomy and AI companies in southwestern Pennsylvania.
“Pittsburgh's transformation into a tech hub makes it an ideal city for launching the NVIDIA AI Tech Community,” said Jack Wells, Director of Global Business Development Higher Education and Research, NVIDIA. “We’re working with the world-class thought leaders at Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh to accelerate advances in critical areas such as generative AI, distributed autonomy, and intelligent healthcare systems.”
