University of Utah joins HP and Nvidia to advance AI usage at school

The University of Utah has joined forces with a pair of major technology companies to accelerate research and discovery using artificial intelligence. 

The school will sign agreements with Hewlett Packard Enterprise and AI chipmaker Nvidia that will amplify the university’s capacity for understanding cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, mental health and genetics. The initiative is projected to enable medical breakthroughs and drive innovation and scientific discovery across disciplines. 

“The U has a proud legacy of pioneering technological breakthroughs,” said Taylor Randall, president of the University of Utah. “Our goal is to make the state awash in computing power by building a robust AI ecosystem benefiting our entire system of higher education, driving research to find new cures, and igniting Utah’s entrepreneurial spirit.”

The partnership, which includes a $50 million investment of funds from both public and philanthropic sources, is projected to increase the UofU’s computing capacity 3.5-fold. The school’s board of trustees recently gave preliminary approval to the proposed arrangement.

The structure paves a path for substantial advances in computing storage and infrastructure required for Utah-based projects in AI and innovation, the UofU said in a release. “The goal is to lay the foundation for a scalable AI ecosystem available to researchers, learners and entrepreneurs across Utah.”

Brynn and Peter Huntsman, along with the Huntsman Family Foundation, will provide a lead philanthropic gift to the UofU that is intended to initiate the project and help encourage other supporters to make investments required to move the work forward through AI “supercomputer” systems designed to handle enormous processing and storage needs. The university will seek remaining funds from the state of Utah and other sources.

“This AI initiative will accelerate world-class cancer research that enhances capabilities in ways we hardly imagined just a few years ago,” said Peter Huntsman, CEO and chairman of the Huntsman Cancer Foundation. “Huntsman Cancer Foundation recently announced our commitment to support the expansion of the educational, research and clinical care capacity of the world-renown Huntsman Cancer Institute in Vineyard, which will serve as a hub for cancer AI research. These investments will speed discoveries and enhance the state of Utah’s leadership in AI education and economic opportunity.”

Mental health will be a major focus of the AI research endeavor.

“As the Huntsman Mental Health Institute opens its new 185,000-square-foot Translational Research Building this coming year, we’re looking forward to increasing momentum around mental health research, including the impact of this technology,” said Christena Huntsman Durham, Huntsman Mental Health Foundation CEO and co-chair. “We know so many people are struggling with mental health challenges; we’re thrilled we will be able to move even faster to get help to those who need it most.”