Boston College Establishes Institute for AI, Ethics, and Humanity with Major Gift

Boston College has received a significant donation from University Trustee Jason Krantz '95, P'23, and his wife Keely (Fitzgerald) Krantz '95, P'23, to establish the Krantz Institute for Artificial Intelligence, Ethics, and Humanity. The institute will focus on exploring the opportunities and implications of AI while addressing its potential dangers from a humanistic perspective.

The gift leverages Boston College's strengths as a Jesuit, Catholic university in formative education and ethical discernment. The Krantz Institute aims to instill BC students with critical thinking skills necessary for becoming leaders in AI deployment. It will draw on academic programs across nine schools at the University, including liberal arts, business, law, social work, and theology.

The institute has three primary goals: convening global thought leaders through conferences and symposia; providing fellowships, internships, and experiential learning opportunities for BC students to shape AI's future; and advancing curricular innovation and integration at the University. The Krantz Institute will also award internal seed grants to fund emerging initiatives.

University Provost David Quigley said the gift represents an opportunity for Boston College to respond to AI's potential and limitations in ways that serve not only BC students, faculty, but also the global community. He emphasized the importance of bringing a Jesuit education's values into engagement with generative artificial intelligence.

The Krantz Institute will be led by an executive director, whom Quigley hopes to hire during the coming academic year. The institute will involve all nine schools at Boston College and draw on faculty from various disciplines. Interim leadership assistance will come from Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences Dean Gregory Kalscheur, S.J., and Carroll School of Management John and Linda Powers Family Dean Andrew Boynton.

The Krantz Institute's establishment is seen as a response to the need for humanistic decision-making in AI development. Jason and Keely Krantz believe that Boston College is uniquely positioned to provide ethical leadership due to its commitment to formative education and Jesuit principles. They aim to ensure that AI benefits humanity and serves the common good.

Boston College currently has over 30 faculty teaching AI-related courses, with 11 externally funded research grants from organizations such as the National Science Foundation and private foundations. The University also hosts conferences and forums on campus, including the Winston Center for Leadership and Ethics and the Carroll School of Management's Finance Conference. These initiatives will support the Krantz Institute in convening thought leaders to discuss AI's impact.

The Krantzes emphasized their desire to see values and ethics as foundational components in how the world approaches AI education. They believe that Boston College should be a gathering place for discussions on AI's future, bringing together experts from various fields to address its implications for humanity.