A backbone of modern innovation, artificial intelligence (AI) and data science are central to advancing research, education, and translational impact in nearly every field of inquiry. Offering powerful methods for modeling, prediction, and decision-making, these disciplines allow us to extract insights from complex, high-dimensional data to fuel new discoveries and transformative solutions to tackle global grand challenges.
The Northwestern Network for Collaborative Intelligence (NNCI) is a vibrant community of experts dedicated to advancing responsible, high-impact, world-class research and education in data science and AI. We are harnessing Northwestern’s unparallelled interdisciplinary culture and uniting the strengths of the University’s top schools to build dynamic partnerships around and beyond campus.
Harnessing AI and data science to innovate across industries and disciplines
Through our collaborative ecosystem, we are catalyzing breakthroughs in foundational science and real-world, domain-specific applications of AI and data science across STEM fields, the arts, and the humanities. We aim to redefine the future of collaborative intelligence by establishing Northwestern as the global epicenter where human ingenuity and AI solve society’s most urgent challenges.
AIM-LAB aims to stimulate intellectually invigorating and provocative discussions about the implications of AI technologies and data science for the future of communication/media/journalism and liberal arts education and global AI research and development communities.
Launching in fall 2025, the center will lead initiatives at the intersections of technology, society, and policy — including high school electives, undergraduate microcredentials, and graduate certificates and degrees.
I.AIM bridges computational methods with human expertise to advance medical science and improve human health.
The team of technologists and journalists at the Knight Lab are working on solution-oriented projects advancing news media innovation, including AI art generation, AI editorial model training, and automated live streaming data dashboards.
The initiative leads research and development projects with law and legal-services delivery partners and hosts events at the intersection of law and technology.
The Ryan Institute harnesses the power of big data and AI to address complex challenges, while providing students with an understanding of powerful new quantitative approaches to problem solving.
Jointly funded by the US National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Simons Foundation, the NSF-Simons AI Institute for the Sky (SkAI) will develop AI tools and accelerate astronomy’s data-driven revolution.
These are a few examples of our network in action. What's your DS/AI + X impact story? Collaborate with our network and push the boundaries of what's possible.
Setting ourselves apart
Equipping our students for the evolving demands of the workforce
We are committed to ensuring that students at every level have access to an educational background in data science and AI through program offerings and resources.
Explore Northwestern’s undergraduate programs with a focus on artificial intelligence and data science, including majors, minors, and certificates from departments across the University.
Browse graduate level programs including master's, PhD, and certificate programs designed to advance expertise and launch careers in artificial intelligence, data science, and machine learning.
Discover programs in artificial intelligence, analytics, and data strategy that empower professionals to leverage emerging technologies, lead strategic change, and advance their careers.
Explore the latest happenings
More than 30 students battled it out at Northwestern’s first-ever music hackathon, BitCrush, on Nov. 15, performing familiar hits and original compositions with an unusual instrument: code. The event was sponsored by the Northwestern Network for Collaborative Intelligence.
Professor Dedre Gentner has received the 2025 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Computer and Cognitive Science from the Franklin Institute, which for more than two centuries has honored the world’s most influential scientists, engineers and inventors who have made significant advances in science and technology.