DC daily roundup: Inside UMCP’s new ethical AI project; HBCU founder excellence; a big VC shutters MoCo office

University of Maryland launches new AI institute

The Artificial Intelligence Interdisciplinary Institute at Maryland (AIM) will focus on what it calls “ethical AI development,” UMD announced last week.

The institute will be interdisciplinary, focused on research and education. It’ll offer degrees and certifications too. I had the chance to chat with Hal Daumé, the institute’s inaugural director, about the details.

“We need to start thinking about — not just AI as a technology that we’re developing in some vacuum that doesn’t affect people,” he told me. “And we really need to think about its impact on people in society.”

➡️ Learn more about the institute in my latest report

HBCU innovation at the heart of this founder’s mission

Kiante Bush balances leading initiatives to support historically Black institution-based entrepreneurs alongside plans to launch an app later this year — and new fatherhood.

He’s the founder of Venture for T.H.E.M., an accelerator and resource for minority founders. He also helped create the HBCUniverse Summit and was named as Technical.ly DC’s 2023 Tech Community Leader of the Year, too.

Technical.ly’s lead reporter in Baltimore Alanah Nichole Davis spoke with Bush about his career, goals and what’s next for him.

➡️ Learn more about Bush’s journey here.

News Incubator: What else to know today

• New Enterprise Associates, one of the largest VC’s in the world, quietly closed its Chevy Chase office at the end of last year. [Washington Biz Journal]

• DHS announced a new campaign to combat online child exploitation and abuse. Several tech companies are key partners, including Google and Meta. [Washington Post]

• Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Democrats who control the Virginia General Assembly came to an 11th-hour compromise yesterday to extend negotiations over the state budget. [WTOP]

• There are plans for a new park and improvements to sidewalks and bike lanes near Amazon’s HQ2. [ARLNow]

🗓️ On the Calendar

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