It labored out, in fact. As he arrived in Cambridge, he naturally converged on MIT’s prestigious AI Lab in Expertise Square, where he initially focused on speech recognition before transitioning to early-stage computer vision. After earning his PhD, he held concurrent positions as a computer science professor at Cornell University and a researcher at Xerox’s Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), commuting frequently between New York and Silicon Valley, where he worked on pioneering computer vision projects aimed at transforming digital copiers and scanners. In academia, researchers have the opportunity to tackle curiosity-driven projects that might not have immediate practical applications, unlike in the corporate world where the primary focus is on building solutions that people can actually use. Throughout my career, I have oscillated seamlessly between these two realms.
As he navigated his career path, Huttenlocher also developed impressive administrative skills. As a long-standing member of the MacArthur Foundation’s board and eventual chair, he also played a pivotal role in establishing Cornell Tech, the university’s groundbreaking graduate school in New York City, where he served as its inaugural dean and vice provost for technology and innovation. In 2018, Stephen Schwarzman, CEO of private equity firm Blackstone Group, donated $350 million to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to establish a college of computer science, with the intention of returning to his alma mater to oversee its development and growth as dean. “As he reflects on MIT’s bold commitment to transformation, driven by the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence, he conveys genuine excitement about the institution’s comprehensive efforts to adapt and lead.”
The Schwarzman College of Computing at MIT was established through a collaborative effort involving more than 100 faculty members from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. By fall 2019, a well-defined plan was in place, with Huttenlocher assuming the role of director, while Ozdaglar was appointed deputy dean for faculty. “I never thought that every individual requires a background in computer science from MIT,” she states.
“Today’s college students embody a diverse range of passions. As educators, it is our responsibility to empower these bilingual learners, equipping them not only with proficiency in their chosen discipline but also preparing them to harness the cutting-edge innovations of computer science.”
With a background rooted in applying machine learning to enhance communication, transportation, and management strategies. Recently, she has become enthralled with applying machine-learning algorithms to social media, analyzing how the choices people make when sharing content impact the information – and misinformation – that is recommended to them. Her research draws upon her established connections across social sciences, further strengthened by collaborative efforts with her husband, renowned economist and Nobel laureate Daron Acemoglu. “To tackle society’s most pressing issues, I firmly believe that traditional boundaries and disciplines are no longer adequate,” she emphasizes. The cross-disciplinary collaboration opportunities provided by the faculty have empowered me to venture beyond my initial scope and disseminate the wealth of knowledge I’ve acquired across the entire MIT community.
Since Ozdaglar has driven school hiring for the faculty, collaborating with 18 departments to propel forward numerous students at the forefront of computer science. Some integration challenges have arisen in certain approaches when combining newly hired staff with existing teams. For decades, we’ve adhered to a tried-and-true instructional approach, making it challenging to adopt new methods and pace ourselves for progress. She has also visibly delighted in the new musical instruments. The faculty has recently welcomed more than 30 new members from four diverse areas: climate and computing, cognitive and pure intelligence, humanities and social sciences, and artificial intelligence for scientific exploration. Throughout their academic journey, students typically secure a tutorial space in another department, along with an assigned mentor, and occasionally access a laboratory facility within the school.
The commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration has been seamlessly woven throughout every aspect of the company’s state-of-the-art headquarters facility. As Huttenlocher navigates the campus, most buildings at MIT present a unified façade, their monolithic appearance punctuated only by occasional bursts of modernity – brightly lit hallways and common areas with imposing walls of glass that gaze out onto Vassar Street. To enhance user engagement, we aimed to create an atmosphere that was both inclusive and welcoming. While the Institute’s cutting-edge computing facilities primarily reside at its main hub in Holyoke, approximately 90 miles west of Massachusetts, the building itself is designed for collaboration, featuring numerous labs and shared workspaces that are illuminated by glass and blonde wood accents. Throughout the corridors, transparent portals offer tantalizing views of unexpected scenes, such as a massive robot suspended from the ceiling amidst a labyrinthine web of cables and wires.
The lab and workspace areas for school research teams focused on related issues – comprising experts from institutions such as CSAIL and LIDS – are strategically integrated onto the same floor, fostering a culture of interaction and collaboration. Because it fosters connections across labs, Huttenlocher notes. Despite neither the laboratory nor the faculty owning the convention space, collaboration is essential to utilizing its resources effectively. Additionally, another dedicated area is available for six-month periods, allocated through software, specifically for collaborative projects. The primary group to leverage this innovation in its final spring iteration focused on harnessing computation to tackle the complex issue of climate change. To foster undergraduate engagement with the cutting-edge technology, we’ve established a dedicated classroom and a state-of-the-art 250-seat lecture hall that now serves as a hub for foundational Course 6 courses, such as Introduction to Machine Learning, alongside innovative multidisciplinary programs. A centrally located foyer, defined by its hovering design, features cozy cubicles and adaptable furnishings specifically tailored for examination classes.
Among recent graduates of innovative schools, embracing the interdisciplinary approach to learning at their institution has proven a refreshing departure from traditional educational settings, where students often found themselves confined to narrow subject areas. According to Sherrie Wang, an assistant professor with a joint appointment in mechanical engineering and the Institute for Knowledge, Techniques, and Society, principal investigator of the Earth Intelligence Lab, she observed that the convergence of local weather sustainability and AI was still in its early stages when she started her PhD in 2015. Upon entering the job market in 2022, her professional trajectory remained uncertain, with no definitive indication of which department or field she would ultimately join. As a member of Schwartzman’s local weather cluster, she leverages machine learning to analyze satellite data, scrutinizing global crop distributions and agricultural practices. “As she notes, having a group of individuals with similar philosophical underpinnings can facilitate the effective application of these tools to address pressing real-world concerns.” “As we drive innovation forward, we’re simultaneously advancing our tools.”
