Google establishes Hinton Chair in AI at Toronto university

12:50

By: Dakir Madiha

Google establishes Hinton Chair in AI at Toronto university

Google announced a $10 million CAD donation to fund the Hinton Chair in Artificial Intelligence at the University of Toronto, matched by the university to support pioneering research. This move honors Geoffrey Hinton's foundational role in machine learning and artificial neural networks, earning him a share of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics.

Hinton, often called the "Godfather of AI," spent decades advancing the field through his academic work at the University of Toronto and his tenure at Google Brain until 2023. The chair will attract leading researchers to build on his innovations in neural networks, which underpin modern AI systems like large language models.

The initiative highlights Google's strategy to invest in AI talent amid a fierce global race, where the company leverages its research prowess and infrastructure. University of Toronto officials described the gift as a transformative step for Canadian AI leadership, fostering breakthroughs in ethical and advanced applications.