Vanderbilt University’s School of Connected Computing has launched the Amplify Generative AI Innovation Center, a “living laboratory” that advances the ethical and human-centered use of generative and agentic AI in research, teaching and learning, student success, administrative operations, and external partnerships. The center is co-led by Center Director and Computer Science Professor Jules White and Chief AI and Technology Officer Allen Kearns.
“The AGI Innovation Center reflects Vanderbilt University’s courage to expand our interdisciplinary efforts to bring human-centered AI to research, education, and services to improve our communities and society,” said President Daniel Diermeier.
The center provides tools, training, and collaboration pathways that enable students, faculty, and staff to work smarter and achieve more while prioritizing privacy, ethics, and academic integrity. It also serves as a gateway for business and government partners to pilot real-world use cases with meaningful impact.
White and Kearns pioneered the open source Amplify AI platform, which delivers secure enterprise-wide AI tools at scale, including a GPT-based assistant tailored for academic use cases. More than 10,000 Vanderbilt students, faculty, and staff are already using the Amplify platform, and it has been tested at more than 40 higher education institutions nationwide. In addition, Mr. White has developed a robust set of AI education courses through Coursera, with over 1 million learners enrolled to date.
“With the development of the Amplify platform and the educational resources provided through Coursera, students, faculty, and staff will have the secure tools and learning experiences they need to advance their academic, teaching, and administrative work and to responsibly and effectively use powerful new AI resources,” said Cybele Raver, provost and vice president for academic affairs.
White and Kearns have emerged as leading experts in using AI to enhance knowledge and improve productivity. They have given keynote speeches to companies such as Meta, Oracle, and Wells Fargo. They briefed the U.S. Senate AI Task Force. Each has been featured in various global news outlets. wall street journal,Bloomberg, washington post And CNN.
“Our focus is on augmented intelligence, using generative and agentic AI to extend what people can do through practices that protect privacy and preserve academic value,” White said.
Matthew Johnson-Roberson, dean of the College of Connected Computing, said the AGI Center squarely fulfills the school’s mission to provide “computing for everyone,” especially in rapidly emerging fields like AI.
“The University of Connected Computing connects computing with all areas of research,” said Johnson-Roberson. “The AGI Center embodies that mission by bringing advances in AI to practical impact on campus and beyond.”
Kearns notes that as the center grows, Amplify will become an important platform not only for the Vanderbilt campus, but also for academic, corporate, and government partners.
“The AGI Center helps partners deploy AI thoughtfully and at scale by coordinating programs, pilots, and partnerships, especially with the calling card of the Amplify platform,” Kearns said.
About Amplify Generative AI Innovation Center
The Amplify Generative AI Innovation Center is an interdisciplinary hub at Vanderbilt University that advances human-centered applications of generative and agentic AI in research, education, operations, and partnerships. The center builds on Vanderbilt’s growing record of AI thought leadership and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
About Connected Computing College
Vanderbilt’s University of Connected Computing unites computing and disciplines across the university to advance discovery, learning, and innovation that benefits society.
