New AI Institute at UVA Darden School of Business

new AI institute

The University of Virginia recently announced the launch of the LaCross Institute for Ethical Artificial Intelligence in Business, a game-changer for the school and the broader AI landscape. This new AI institute, based at UVA’s Darden School of Business, is thanks to a record-breaking gift from David LaCross (MBA ’78) and his wife, Kathy.

Building on Darden’s AI Initiative, which kicked off in 2022, the LaCross Institute will expand UVA’s role in shaping how AI influences business and society. This new hub brings together researchers, educators, and practitioners across UVA’s schools and institutes. The goal is to explore and teach ethical AI practices while driving innovation and preparing the next generation of business leaders for AI-driven industries.

AI is everywhere, and its impact is only growing. But alongside all the excitement, there are significant ethical questions to tackle—how reliable is the data? Will AI take over jobs? How can AI enhance, rather than replace, human decision-making?

For UVA, these questions present both an opportunity and a responsibility. The LaCross Institute is ready to address AI’s challenges and potential through research, education, and thought leadership.

new AI institute

The Ethics of AI

Darden’s dean, Scott Beardsley, sees this new AI institute as a perfect fit for the school, which has long emphasized the importance of business ethics and innovation. “AI is a multi-trillion-dollar industry, and the demand for AI skills is huge,” Beardsley said in a statement from the school. “Our students are eager to dive in, and we’re in a unique position to shape what ethical leadership in AI looks like.”

The LaCross Institute aims to ensure that AI is powerful and ethical. At the same time, the next generation of leaders must learn how to navigate this exciting and sometimes daunting new world.

David and Kathy LaCross are no strangers to supporting AI at UVA. Their earlier donations totaling $100M+ laid the foundation for Darden’s AI Initiative. With this latest gift, the LaCrosses are helping to create new professorships, develop courses, and fund fellowships—all aimed at making UVA a leader in ethical AI education and research.

This is a big moment for both Darden and the broader UVA community. The LaCross Institute will play a crucial role in guiding the future of AI responsibly and thoughtfully. With partnerships across UVA’s School of Data Science and others, the university hopes to lead conversations about the role of AI in business and beyond.

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