The newly established LaCross Institute for Ethical Artificial Intelligence in Business has created genuine excitement across the Darden enterprise! This positions the School to be a leader in artificial intelligence (AI) research and teaching in the business world.
The University of Virginia Darden School of Business proudly announced the institute earlier this month as an extension of the AI initiative created in 2022 through a previous gift by Darden alumnus David LaCross (MBA ’78) and his wife, Kathy. Ever passionate about the future of AI research, the LaCrosses were inspired to increase their gift to $101 million — the largest gift in Darden School history — to ensure funding for the institute and Darden’s place in the research ecosystem.
AI is already a multi-trillion dollar business, and demands comprehensive solutions. Our students are hungry for AI relevant skills and knowledge and the LaCross AI Institute can explore the business opportunities of AI across sectors and also define what ethical leadership means in the age of artificial intelligence.
IMPLEMENTATIONS FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS
Dean Scott Beardsley, the chair of the institute’s advisory council, and Darden Professors Yael Gruska-Cockayne and Raj Venkatesan, its academic directors, are spearheading faculty involvement.
In addition to the integrations MBA students will see in the classroom, the impact of the LaCross Institute extends to student and faculty research, general instruction, technological advancements, preparation for careers in AI and learning opportunities hosted by the School.
