Cornell Appoints Prof. Thorsten Joachims As New Vice Provost for Artificial Intelligence Strategy Position
Publish Date: 2026-01-29 00:54:00
Source Domain: www.cornellsun.com
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Appointment of Prof. Thorsten Joachims: Prof. Thorsten Joachims has been appointed as the vice provost for artificial intelligence strategy at Cornell University, effective from January 1.
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Expanding Cornell AI Initiative: The Cornell AI Initiative, which Joachims currently directs, will see further expansion.
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AI Strategy Council: A new AI Strategy Council has been established to collaborate with Joachims, consisting of key university officials, to facilitate broader AI initiatives across Cornell.
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Emphasis on Ethical AI Use: The university aims to innovate thoughtfully with AI, balancing its benefits and potential harms in research and education.
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Joachims’ Academic Background: Joachims joined the Cornell faculty in 2001 and has held various roles including Interim Dean and Associate Dean for Research.
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Focus on Learning to Rank: Joachims’ research has focused primarily on Learning to Rank and the applications of machine learning to systems.
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AI’s Growing Role in Education: The appointment and new council reflect the growing importance of AI in academic and research settings across the university.
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AI Motto: The university advocates for a balanced approach to AI with the motto “AI on tap, not AI on top,” as articulated by Provost Bala to optimize educational outcomes without overrelying on AI tools.