Brown CS News

"I am delighted to announce," writes Brown University Provost Francis J. Doyle III, "that Michael Littman, University Professor of Computer Science, has been appointed as Brown University’s first Associate Provost for Artificial Intelligence (APAI), a newly established leadership position with a campus-wide charge to advance, in a responsible manner, Brown’s engagement with AI across its academic missions.

Michael brings to this role a strong legacy of work in AI, including education and interdisciplinary research, and is a leading spokesperson in the field – including through his work at the National Science Foundation (NSF). In his current rotation as Division Director for Information and Intelligent Systems at the NSF, Michael provides management and oversight for the unit, makes funding decisions, and spearheads partnerships with other NSF units, federal agencies, scientific organizations and the academic community. Michael oversees an annual budget of $200M and supports researchers in AI, machine learning, human-computer interaction, computational neuroscience, biomedical engineering, robotics, educational technology, and computer graphics and visualization. 

Michael will begin the role effective July 1, 2025, upon completion of his service at the NSF. He will engage with the campus in a planning capacity starting in January.

As APAI, Michael will provide strategic leadership on the development, use, and governance of AI at Brown, ensuring that AI education, research, and responsible practices remain central to university-wide initiatives. Reporting directly to the provost, Michael will work closely with academic and administrative partners across the University and beyond, including faculty, students, staff, alumni, members of the Corporation, and external stakeholders, to shape AI-related priorities and opportunities.

In this role, Michael will spearhead initiatives to:

• Coordinate and enhance AI-related research across campus, including support for student research and leading efforts to secure external funding.
• Expand educational opportunities at all levels to ensure students from diverse disciplines engage with AI’s transformative potential, including its applications in the sciences, medicine, humanities, arts, and social sciences.
• Advise and support operational units in their adoption and use of AI, in collaboration with the Office of Information Technology (OIT).
• Engage with public and private stakeholders to strengthen Brown’s partnerships and impact in the rapidly evolving field of AI.

Michael will collaborate with key University stakeholders to drive curriculum innovation, shape research priorities, and expand public engagement in AI. He will also lead a cross-University coordinating committee to align academic initiatives with administrative functions, fostering a cohesive approach to advancing AI-related efforts.

At the NSF, Michael led the development of groundbreaking AI research initiatives, many of which explored the transformative role of AI across sciences, social sciences, and society at large. He played a pivotal role as a lead author on significant government reports that shaped national AI priorities, including the 2023 update to the U.S. AI Research and Development Strategic Plan, which directs federal AI research investments, and the Global AI Research Agenda, which outlines strategies for international collaboration in AI.

Michael also spearheaded the “Educate AI” initiative at NSF and helped establish a National AI Institute dedicated to leveraging AI to identify and support school-aged children with speech and learning delays. His vision for empowering students from diverse backgrounds to harness AI aligns seamlessly with Brown’s mission to foster inclusive and impactful teaching and learning.

A tenured member of Brown’s faculty for over 12 years, Michael brings a distinguished scholarly background in AI theory and applications and an established record of leadership in interdisciplinary initiatives. In 2024, Michael received the AAAI/EAAI Patrick Henry Winston Outstanding Educator Award (with Charles Isbell) for pioneering approaches to teaching AI and machine learning, highlighting his innovative use of online courses to reach thousands of learners and their creative, engaging outreach to the broader public.

Michael recognizes that there is an exciting opportunity to innovate creatively with AI, while being acutely aware that any efforts will need to directly and transparently support the University’s mission. He believes that AI systems can help accelerate discovery when given access to the right kind of data, but that they are not a replacement for human creativity and judgment. His expertise and vision will ensure that Brown remains at the forefront of responsible AI development and deployment.

Michael earned a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Brown University in 1996 and undertook graduate studies at Carnegie Mellon University in 1993. He received an M.S. in Computer Science from Yale University in 1988. Michael graduated summa cum laude from Yale University in 1988 with a B.S. in Computer Science, achieving exceptional distinction in the field.

I want to extend my gratitude to the members of the APAI search committee for their commitment to this important search process. Please join us in welcoming Michael to this pivotal role as we embark on an exciting new chapter in Brown’s engagement with AI."