Grainger Engineering’s Information and Intelligence group announces participation in Department of Commerce consortium dedicated to AI safety

**The Information and Intelligence Group within The Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is one of more than 200 leading AI stakeholders to help advance the development and deployment of safe, trustworthy AI under new U.S. Government safety institute**

(Urbana, IL) – Today, The Grainger College of Engineering’s Information and Intelligence Group at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign announced that it joined more than 200 of the nation’s leading artificial intelligence (AI) stakeholders to participate in a Department of Commerce initiative to support the development and deployment of trustworthy and safe AI. Established by the Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) on February 8, 2024 when Illinois joined as a provisional member, the U.S. AI Safety Institute Consortium (AISIC) brings together AI creators and users, academics, government and industry researchers, and civil society organizations to meet this mission.

“The Information and Intelligence Group I lead is an interdisciplinary research group perfectly situated within The Grainger College of Engineering, where our collaborative approach to computing research leads to AI development that is both foundational, groundbreaking, and ethically sound,” said Illinois Grainger Engineering professor Lav Varshney of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Coordinated Science Laboratory. “That is what makes us a perfect fit within the Department of Commerce’s new consortium dedicated to AI safety. We are thrilled to stand with other academic entities, member companies, and organizations to contribute to public policy and to build the future of AI in a socially responsible way.”

The consortium includes more than 200 member companies and organizations that are on the frontlines of developing and using AI systems, as well as the civil society and academic teams that are building the foundational understanding of how AI can and will transform our society. These entities represent the nation’s largest companies and its innovative startups; creators of the world’s most advanced AI systems and hardware; key members of civil society and the academic community; and representatives of professions with deep engagement in AI’s use today. The consortium also includes state and local governments, as well as non-profits. The consortium will also work with organizations from like-minded nations that have a key role to play in setting interoperable and effective safety around the world.

The full list of consortium participants is available here.

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About The Grainger College of Engineering
The Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign upholds its reputation as a top-ranked engineering college by delivering engineering education that isn’t beholden to commonality. Innovation here comes from the pursuit of a more diverse student body, programs that emphasize collaboration, methodology that commits to hands-on learning, and research that boldly answers difficult questions. Our land-grant mission grounds us, and our accomplishments include advancements in the MRI, LED, ILIAC, Mosaic, YouTube, flexible electronics, electric machinery, miniature batteries, imaging the black hole and much more. With fortitude, determination, and dogged commitment to a brighter future, we don’t just make a difference; we create the difference. And that difference will construct a better future for everyone. Visit for more information.

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