AI for Good: USC Research

USC Dornsife's AI Research

We are at a pivotal moment where the physical world converges with human and artificial intelligence. As AI increasingly influences our lives, it's crucial to consider who shapes its future. Technology is only a piece of the puzzle; broader, more profound inquiries are essential to defining our relationship with AI and require diverse expertise.

At USC Dornsife, researchers are both refining and examining AI, focusing on areas from drug discovery to systems optimization, as well as AI ethics and safety. The goal is ensuring AI's development mirrors our best values. The question of whether AI can truly 'think' differs from whether it is 'intelligent'. The Lord Foundation of California supports an institute furthering the university's Frontiers of Computing initiative.

Advancing Scientific Discovery with AI

USC Dornsife researchers utilize AI to explore the complexities of DNA structure and chemistry, which yields insights into gene regulation and disease. Experts are analyzing the buzz around programs like ChatGPT and their potential to revolutionize the world.

Ethical AI Development

Since machines lack inherent moral judgment, it is important to ensure their decisions align with human values. USC researchers are studying how AI systems make choices, which will inform the creation of technologies that prioritize human well-being from their inception. AI can detect patterns in the complexities of thought and emotion, assisting experts in understanding signals that affect perception, memory, and behavior. USC Dornsife research enhances our understanding of what it means to be human by exploring the brain's complex functions.

AI Applications and Innovation

USC Dornsife researchers develop and use intelligent systems to improve predictions, reduce obstacles, and identify innovative solutions to complex issues. This involves not just improving current health, but also imagining future possibilities by simulating events across time, connecting disparate information, and fostering serendipity. AI inspires human creativity, transforming the questions researchers explore and enhancing the tools they use to find answers.

Ethics and Trust in Computing

The USC Institute on Ethics & Trust in Computing (IETC) seeks to provide expertise in the responsible advancement of AI. Rather than hindering progress, IETC aims to address critical issues, such as justice, judgment, agency, and societal obligations in an AI-driven world. This initiative begins with philosophical inquiry, used as a means for clear and wise decision-making. IETC, a collaboration between the USC Dornsife School of Philosophy, the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, and other interdisciplinary scholars, examines the intersection of ethics and new technology. The institute aims to influence public discussion, partner with industry, and educate students to integrate critical thinking with practical application as we increasingly depend on AI for problem-solving.

Revolutionizing Drug Discovery

Vsevolod Katritch, a computational researcher at USC Dornsife, is innovating drug discovery with V-SYNTHES, an AI-driven technology identifying potential treatments from vast datasets. Instead of the traditional method of testing numerous chemical compounds, V-SYNTHES virtually assembles molecules and predicts the effects of these combinations with greater speed. This has the potential to shorten research timelines, lower costs, and accelerate breakthroughs in areas like addiction therapy, cancer treatment, and Alzheimer’s.

The Foundation of AI: Basic Research

The fundamental research at universities such as USC is a major source of American innovation, even though it often goes unnoticed. The work of two USC faculty members illustrates how basic research has been crucial to AI-driven advancements that could revolutionize healthcare.

Protein Data Bank and AI

Helen Berman, a USC Dornsife structural and computational biologist, co-founded the international Protein Data Bank (PDB) in 1971. Her work laid the groundwork for AI systems that are changing our understanding of biology and speeding up the creation of new treatments for diseases. Proteins perform almost every function in our bodies. Each protein folds into a specific 3D shape to function correctly, which is essential for developing drugs. Predicting protein folding was once nearly impossible with traditional computing. The Protein Data Bank revolutionized the field by creating an open-access repository of 3D protein structures, which enabled machine learning systems to identify protein folding patterns. AI systems like AlphaFold and DeepMind, which are built on the PDB, now help scientists find precise molecular structures and targets for treating conditions like Alzheimer’s and cancer.

Cell Modeling Initiative

Comprehensive cell models improve our understanding of processes such as insulin production in diabetes or hormone secretion by neurons. The USC Cell Modeling Initiative (CMI) uses the lessons learned from the Protein Data Bank to map cellular structures and functions. By using AI and virtual reality, CMI aims to improve our understanding of disease through advanced visualization techniques. Biochemist Kate White, Helen Berman, computer scientist Carl Kesselman, and production designer Alex McDowell co-lead the initiative, creating immersive experiences that enable scientists to explore cells in new ways.

AI in Education

USC Dornsife's educational offerings are evolving to prepare students for a future impacted by AI. Undergraduates can study AI from different perspectives through courses in philosophy, quantitative and computational biology, and neuroscience. Students develop critical thinking skills regarding AI's impact, whether they are studying the ethics of machine reasoning or working in Silicon Valley. Course examples include: QBIO 465 (Artificial Intelligence in Biology and Medicine), PHIL/ENGR 265g (Ethics, Technology, and Value), and CORE 499 (Simulation & Society). Graduate programs emphasize AI fluency, providing training from leading experts. Students will gain the skills needed to excel in various sectors.