Colby Becomes First Liberal Arts College to Establish Major Academic Program in Artificial Intelligence

• $30-Million Gift Positions Students to Address Pressing Issues Through AI

Colby College announced that it has received a $30-million gift to establish the first cross-disciplinary institute for artificial intelligence (AI) at a liberal arts college. Made possible by the tremendous generosity of the Davis family and trustee of its charitable foundation Andrew Davis ’85, LL.D. ’15, the Davis Institute for Artificial Intelligence will provide new pathways for talented students and faculty to research, create, and apply AI and machine learning (ML) across disciplines while setting a precedent for how liberal arts colleges can shape the future of AI.

“Their newest investment in Colby might just turn out to be the most transformative of all”

“Andrew Davis and his family have a gift for seeing how the world is evolving and how organizations and individuals must grow and change,” said President David A. Greene. “Their remarkable support has made Colby a global institution, a leading college in the sciences, and one that changes the life outcomes of its students through exceptional internship, research, and international experiences.

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“Their newest investment in Colby might just turn out to be the most transformative of all,” he said. “Becoming a prominent center for the teaching and research of artificial intelligence and machine learning allows Colby’s faculty and students to reimagine a liberal arts education for this century and beyond. Importantly, it will ensure that the next generation of leaders will have rich technical expertise, but they will not simply be technocrats. These Colby graduates will be deeply educated in the liberal arts with the powers of discernment to shape AI for the greater good.

“While my gratitude to Andrew and his family is unbounded, I know the greatest thanks that Andrew can receive is to see the Davis Institute flourish and for it to forever change the life trajectory of our students and to better our world in substantive and lasting ways. That’s our commitment to my friend Andrew, who challenges us to reach higher, imagine more, and never settle when it comes to Colby’s relevance and impact.”

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The Davis Institute for Artificial Intelligence, which will open this fall following a national search for a founding director, will prepare Colby students for a future where AI is transforming a growing array of industries, careers, and modes of discovery, creativity, and scholarship. Colby students will become and help lead the next generation of programmers and designers who will shape the capacity and influence of AI. They will also be prepared to engage with and build upon that capability through a wide range of applications and to influence policy decisions regarding the social and ethical implications of AI and its uses for the common good.

“Addressing the complex questions surrounding AI requires a holistic analysis and response that can only come from a broad liberal arts perspective,” said Andrew Davis. “With its distinctive tradition of interdisciplinary scholarship, exceptional expertise in the sciences, and strong focus on engaging with the world, Colby is uniquely positioned to take a leadership role in preparing students for this incredibly important work, and we’re very pleased to support this important initiative.”

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