CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Capital One and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign recently announced the launch of the Center for Generative AI Safety, Knowledge Systems and Cybersecurity. A pioneering collaboration between Capital One and the Grainger College of Engineering Siebel School of Computing and Data Science, its mission is to advance the safety, security and trustworthiness of Generative Artificial Intelligence Models across multiple domains, according to a news release from Capital One.
The ASKS Center builds on a long legacy of partnership between Capital One and the University of Illinois. Capital One Illinois Digital Campus Lab, the company’s first university-based lab site, opened in 2015 at the University of Illinois Research Park. The Lab focuses on research and experimentation in data science, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and other topics relevant to the work of the ASKS Center. It has a mix of full-time employees and student interns who work year-round, serving as a talent pipeline for the company.
As a part of this partnership, Capital One has pledged $3 million over five years to support projects from faculty and PhD students researching GAIMs. This support will be determined by input from faculty and a Center Advisory Board composed of representatives from Capital One and the University of Illinois.
“We are delighted to strengthen our customer-centered scientific research initiatives by bringing together top talent from our two organizations,” said Prem Natarajan, PhD, EVP, Chief Scientist and Head of Enterprise AI at Capital One. “With the launch of ASKS, we are doubling down on our mission to find solutions to the most challenging problems in AI while providing a platform for the next generation of AI leaders in the U.S. to gain exposure to solving some of the most pressing industry problems through novel advances in science and technology.”
Learn more about the Capital One Illinois Digital Campus Lab on the Research Park website.