Ohio State to hire 100 new faculty with AI expertise

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Ohio State to hire 100 new faculty with AI expertise

AI-focused faculty hires will complement the existing expertise at Ohio State

The Ohio State University has announced a major Artificial Intelligence (AI) Faculty Hiring Initiative that will add 100 new tenure-track faculty with expertise in AI over the next five years. The initiative will expand AI research and education across disciplines and strengthen Ohio State's position as a national and global leader in AI-driven discovery and societal impact.

Shared during President Walter "Ted" Carter Jr.'s 2025 State of the University address, the AI Faculty Hiring Initiative advances Ohio State's Education for Citizenship 2035 strategic plan. By positioning AI as a central priority, the plan highlights the university's commitment to accelerating innovation and achieving a new level of academic excellence.

The new hires will join one of three AI Faculty cohorts:

• Foundational AI - Elevating the theoretical, mathematical and algorithmic underpinnings of AI.
• Applied AI - Harnessing AI to revolutionize the translation of ideas to real-world solutions for Ohio and beyond.
• Responsible AI and Cybersecurity - Ensuring ethical innovation and safeguarding digital landscapes for a secure future.

Initial faculty searches are underway, and the first group of hires will join their respective cohorts in autumn 2026. The 100 AI-focused faculty hires will complement the existing expertise at Ohio State, including the approximately 300 scholars who already are innovating with AI in their respective fields.

The AI Faculty Hiring Initiative builds on Ohio State's comprehensive and ambitious AI strategy, advancing the integration of AI across research, teaching and learning to transform the academic experience university-wide. A key component, the AI Fluency initiative, was announced in June and ensures that every student, beginning with the Class of 2029, graduates fluent in applying AI within their field of study.

Earlier this month, the university launched the AI^(X) Hub, or AI to the power of X, a university-wide hub spanning all 15 of Ohio State's colleges that will serve as a catalyst for research and innovation in AI. The hub empowers faculty, researchers and students to harness AI for the public good and develop solutions to the world's most pressing challenges. The incoming 100 AI-focused faculty will become integral members of the hub, driving collaborative projects and advancing innovation across disciplines.

"Ohio State is committed to pursuing academic excellence while harnessing AI in classrooms, studios and research labs," said Executive Vice President and Provost Ravi V. Bellamkonda. "AI is reshaping both education and research, and Ohio State stands at the forefront of this evolution. Our exceptional faculty and students are exploring AI's exponential possibilities across diverse disciplines, driving innovation, advancing impactful research and preparing to lead in a rapidly changing world."

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