Thank you, Galin, for that warm welcome and for already setting an inspiring tone as our inaugural Vice Provost for AI.
Our AI Hub is not just a new initiative; we’re making a bold commitment to connect disciplines, industries, and communities to ensure AI drives real impact across Minnesota and beyond.
What Galin represents is exactly what this moment demands: a leader who brings people together.
Even in his own research, his collaborations span an incredible range of fields—from philosophy and physics to psychology, veterinary medicine, ecology, and more.
He is also passionate about bridging the AI literacy gap — from early learners in hundreds of summer camps to area principal and teacher workshops, tailored training for local employers, and engagement with policymakers.
A final welcome to our industry innovators, partners and policymakers with us today!
It’s fitting to be here in Huntington Bank Stadium — the place where we’ve witnessed our Golden Gophers unite around a shared vision and win as a team.
That’s the goal today as we celebrate the launch of our AI Hub — unite around a shared vision and win as a team.
This vision begins with our University-wide strategic roadmap: Elevate Extraordinary 2030.
This roadmap was created by and for our University — faculty, staff, students and stakeholders — to build upon 175 years of ingenuity, talent and grit.
Importantly for today, that legacy includes:
Pioneering leadership in supercomputing.
The innovative Gopher protocol that preceded today’s internet.
And recent advancements like the AI-driven models that detect sepsis and help communities better prepare for flooding risks.
As the University of Minnesota continues to build on these strengths, the AI Hub will serve as a central engine for strategy and impact.
This means the AI Hub will:
Advance AI research, partnerships and collaboration.
Drive AI discovery and innovation.
Support AI learning opportunities for students around the state, starting in pre-K.
Develop programs to train and upskill professionals.
And create an ethical AI framework to guide governance and fluency.
We at the University and indeed all of us in Minnesota are fortunate to have Dr. Jones guiding this next chapter of University innovation in AI.
As he has said, it’s the intentionality of our approach that makes the University’s AI Hub stand out.
And this intentionality is consistent with our land-grant mission — we seek to leverage AI for the public good.
For us, winning looks like:
Leveraging our collective strengths to solve problems together.
Advancing and accelerating responsible AI development.
Driving breakthroughs in agriculture, medicine and materials science.
Expanding learning and training opportunities across our state, especially for those in healthcare, manufacturing and agriculture.
And strengthening Minnesota’s workforce.
The potential is great.
The possibilities are endless.
Now, join me in welcoming the University of Minnesota’s executive vice president and provost, Gretchen Ritter, to examine just how we will make this happen — together.