AI Institute for Edge Computing Leveraging Next Generation Networks (Athena)

名为雅典娜（Athena）的美国国家人工智能研究所（National AI Institute）试图通过利用下一代网络，点燃并推动现代边缘计算的转型。在杜克大学的领导下，雅典娜利用了人工智能（AI）正在进行的革命，并汇集了来自七所大学的多学科团队：杜克大学、麻省理工学院、北卡罗来纳州农业和技术州立大学、普林斯顿大学、密歇根大学安娜堡分校、威斯康星大学麦迪逊分校和耶鲁大学。雅典娜将其研究活动组织在四个相互关联的重点下——人工智能、计算机系统、网络和服务——这构成了一个雄心勃勃、全面的研究议程。它将开发人工智能驱动的下一代边缘计算技术以及人工智能的新算法和实践基础。雅典娜将通过分析、实验和经验工具的结合来评估研究成果，特别是目标用途启发研究。雅典娜致力于一套强大而全面的教育和劳动力发展努力，以及与外部利益相关者（包括行业和社区伙伴关系）的合作和知识转移努力。雅典娜的目标是在边缘计算和人工智能领域做出科学贡献。这些包括(i)通过利用数据驱动的基于人工智能的方法跨堆栈的边缘网络机制；（ii）在边缘增强移动网络上为高效可靠的人工智能提供系统支持；（iii）人工智能的新颖实用和算法基础，以确保这些下一代网络中采用的人工智能解决方案的新功能、效率、可扩展性、安全性、隐私性和公平性；（iv）新颖的服务和应用，侧重于利用其他重点创新的各种网络物理系统。雅典娜的研究成果将使整个网络和计算机行业受益。这个国家研究所将与外部合作者密切合作，将研究成果转化为工业实践和政策制定。雅典娜的教育和推广活动将使学生和博士后能够通过研究经验、行业实习和社区参与来发展他们的兴趣，培养技能，并获得有关人工智能和计算机和网络系统的知识。包容性人工智能计划是雅典娜在教育和劳动力发展方面的创新之一，将加强所有雅典娜成员的道德人工智能能力，以更好地促进和意识到他们的研究以及受研究所研究影响的社区的公平和公平。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The National AI Institute, named Athena, seeks to kindle and fuel a transformation in modern edge computing by leveraging next generation networks. Led by Duke University, Athena taps the ongoing revolution in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and brings together a multidisciplinary team from seven universities: Duke University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Princeton University, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Yale University. Athena organizes its research activities under four interrelated thrusts - AI, Computer Systems, Networking, and Services - which constitute an ambitious and comprehensive research agenda. It will develop AI-driven, next generation technologies for edge computing and new algorithmic and practical foundations of AI. Athena will evaluate the research outcomes through a combination of analytical, experimental, and empirical instruments, especially with target use-inspired research. Athena is committed to a robust and comprehensive suite of educational and workforce development endeavors alongside its collaboration and knowledge transfer efforts with external stakeholders that include both industry and community partnerships. Athena aims at scientific contributions in both edge computing and AI. These include (i) edge networking mechanisms across the stack by leveraging a data-driven, AI-based approach; (ii) systems support for efficient and reliable AI across the edge-enhanced mobile networks; (iii) novel practical and algorithmic foundations of AI to ensure the new functionalities, efficiency, scalability, security, privacy, and fairness of the AI solutions adopted in these next-generation networks; and (iv) novel services and applications, focused on diverse cyber-physical systems that leverage the innovations of the other thrusts. Athena’s research outcomes will benefit the network and computer industries at large. This national institute will work closely with external collaborators to translate research outcomes to industrial practice and policymaking. The educational and outreach activities of Athena will empower students and postdocs to develop their interests, build skills, and acquire knowledge about AI and computer and network systems through research experiences, industry internships, and community engagements. The Inclusive AI Initiative – one of Athena’s innovations in education and workforce development - will strengthen the ethical AI competencies of all Athena members to better promote and be aware of equity and fairness in their research and the communities impacted by the institute’s research.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.