UMD, Deloitte Launch New Artificial Intelligence Initiative

By Gregory Muraski Sep 23, 2022

The Robert H. Smith School of Business has joined Deloitte to launch the Deloitte Initiative for AI and Learning (DIAL), an artificial intelligence (AI) research initiative to expand learning and development opportunities for faculty and students across the University of Maryland’s schools and colleges.

The initiative leverages UMD’s research prominence in AI and data analytics, along with Deloitte’s experience in AI-enabled services and solutions for clients in the private and public sectors. DIAL will build on previous Deloitte and Smith collaborations, such as the Smith Analytics Consortium.

“The DIAL program enables Smith and Deloitte to continue their critical collaborations at the forefront of cutting-edge research and emerging technology,” said Wedad Elmaghraby, Dean’s Professor of Operations Management. “This includes partnering with local industry and federal partners to drive innovation for the public good, creatively pushing our students to embrace analytics challenges in new and unexplored areas of importance, and investing in our understanding of ethical, trustworthy artificial intelligence to further its potential promise.”

The Deloitte AI Institute for Government is funding the initiative, and serves as Deloitte’s hub for innovative perspectives, collaboration and research on AI and related technologies in the public sector. Recent research from the institute found that while government agencies and public sector organizations are beginning to use AI, many still need to build suitable AI governance structures, confront evolving security challenges, and identify impactful applications for this new technology.

“Alongside our longstanding work with the University of Maryland, DIAL will help provide policymakers, industry leaders, researchers and the broader public with a deeper understanding of artificial intelligence,” said Darren Schneider, principal, Deloitte Consulting LLP.

DIAL will focus on:

AI Ethics and Trustworthy AI, including ethical safeguards for privacy, fairness and transparency to protect against algorithmic bias and other AI risks.
AI at Scale, to help government agencies overcome barriers to AI and advance administration priorities with AI at the enterprise level.
AI for Equity, supporting the government’s use of AI to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
AI-Human Interaction, including improving human perceptions of AI, whether among organizational leadership and the workforce or end users and citizens.