This summary highlights various AI projects across the CSU system, led by faculty members at different campuses. These projects address a wide range of challenges, from improving social outcomes to enhancing education and infrastructure, as well as addressing ethical concerns related to AI. Each initiative is driven by the goal of using AI to benefit society in innovative ways.
- The MyMeals project by Professor Yu Chen at San Jose State University used computer vision to suggest recipes based on pantry items during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- AI for Social Good at San Jose State University, also led by Professor Yu Chen, focuses on chatbot solutions that address issues like food insecurity, pollution, and health, with support from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
- CSU Fullerton’s project, led by Professor Yuko Okado, uses AI to help underserved psychology students with personalized career exploration, aiming to reduce STEM attrition.
- The S.T.O.R.M. project at Sonoma State University, led by Professor John Sullins, examines the ethical impacts of AI in U.S. military applications.
More detail on these four CSU projects as well as other CSU initiatives is provided below:
MyMeals Project
The MyMeals project was developed at San Jose State University by Professor Yu Chen during the pandemic in 2020. This innovative initiative utilized computer vision to detect items in users' pantries and suggest recipes, helping families find solutions during a time of food scarcity and uncertainty. The project gained media attention and was featured on ABC7 news as a practical tool during the COVID-19 crisis.
AI for Social Good
Also at San Jose State University, Professor Yu Chen has spearheaded AI for Social Good, a project funded by the National Science Foundation. This initiative focuses on how AI, particularly chatbots, can be applied to solve pressing social issues such as food insecurity, pollution, biodiversity loss, and health. The project engages students in AI development, allowing them to directly contribute to addressing real-world challenges.
Personalized Career Exploration Platform
At CSU Fullerton, Professor Yuko Okado leads a prestigious project that combines AI with career development for psychology students. This National Science Foundation-funded initiative, titled Improving Persistence of Underserved Students in Psychological Science Using an AI-Based, Personalized Career Exploration Platform, received $979,212. The project offers students the opportunity to interact with virtual mentors who provide career advice and personalized recommendations, aiming to reduce high attrition rates in STEM, particularly in psychology, which attracts many underrepresented minority students.
Teaching with ChatGPT and Cultural Identity
Professors Mike Karlin and Alohilani Okamura at CSU are conducting an ethnographic study on the impact of ChatGPT in culturally diverse teaching environments. Funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, this two-year project investigates how preservice teachers in Los Angeles and Hawai‘i engage with ChatGPT, exploring how AI intersects with their cultural identities and teaching practices. The outcomes are expected to inform more equitable and culturally sustaining uses of AI in classrooms.
Expanding AI Capacity in San Diego
At San Diego State University, Professors Junfei Xie, Jun Chen, and Bryan Donyanavard are leading a collaborative project to enhance AI education and research capacity through a partnership with the TILOS AI Institute. This four-year project, funded by the National Science Foundation with a $2.8 million grant, focuses on preparing students for AI careers through enhanced coursework, mentorship programs, and research opportunities. The initiative includes a robotics summer camp for middle and high school students, mentorship for community college students, and expanded AI applications in engineering disciplines.
AI-Assisted Supervisory Control of Wind Farms
A team at CSU, including Ali Ahmadinia, Hamed Nademi, Sreedevi Gutta, and Justin Morris, is advancing AI for energy stability with their project titled AI-Assisted Supervisory Control of Wind Farm Connection to the Grid for Stability Monitoring. Supported by a $399,339 NSF grant, the team is developing new AI and machine learning models to improve wind farm stability monitoring by directly analyzing raw data for fault detection and real-time responses, improving efficiency and resilience in energy systems.
S.T.O.R.M. Project
At Sonoma State University, Professor John Sullins leads the S.T.O.R.M. (SocioTechnical Operational Risk Management) project, funded by the U.S. Department of Defense with a $499,527 grant. The project focuses on analyzing the ethical risks of AI deployment in military operations. Professor Sullins and his team are developing a resource tool that the Department of Defense can use to mitigate ethical risks related to AI in various defense applications, ensuring alignment with DoD AI ethical principles and global standards.
These projects, being led by faculty across the CSU system, demonstrate the university's commitment to leveraging AI to address complex societal challenges, enhance educational opportunities, and explore new ethical dimensions of AI use. Through collaborations with governmental and national agencies, CSU faculty are at the forefront of driving AI innovation for social good.