Humanities Research Centers on Artificial Intelligence

AI is one of the most powerful technologies of our time and will have profound consequences for civil rights and civil liberties, safety and security, and democratic values. Questions about the ethical, legal, and societal implications of AI are fundamentally rooted in the humanities, which include ethics, law, history, philosophy, language and linguistics, anthropology, sociology, media studies, and cultural studies. NEH is particularly interested in projects that explore the risks of AI-related technologies on truth, trust, and democracy; safety and security; and privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties.

The Humanities Research Centers on Artificial Intelligence program addresses Strategy #3 of the 2023 National Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Strategic Plan put forth by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). Strategy #3 calls for research into “the ethical, legal, and societal implications of AI” in order to “understand, anticipate, and mitigate harm as well as [understand] the distribution of likely benefits.” The Humanities Research Centers on Artificial Intelligence program will create new Centers of scholarly discourse and learning, each one a nexus for collaborative efforts that reach across disciplinary lines to gain a more holistic understanding of AI in the modern world.

Applications to this program must propose to create a Center with a specific research focus related to the ethical, legal, or societal implications of AI. A Center is a sustained collaboration among multiple scholars focused on exploring the humanities implications of AI through two or more related scholarly activities. Competitive Centers typically identify a specific topical, methodological, or disciplinary lens through which to focus their efforts. NEH particularly encourages Centers interested in equity, privacy, and civil-rights topics. Centers should aim to advance humanities research on their chosen topic beyond the period of the grant.

In addition to establishing the Center, your project should engage in at least two activities that support research into the ethical, legal, or societal implications of AI. Appropriate activities may include, but are not limited to, collaborative research and writing efforts; education and mentoring; convenings, such as conferences, symposia, and workshop; lecture series; and the creation of digital tools to increase or advance scholarly discourse about AI. You must present a plan to disseminate the results of each activity. Allowable costs include, but are not limited to, salary replacement; compensation of collaborators, post-doctoral students, consultants, and research assistants; fringe benefits; the purchase of computing equipment or software; and travel, lodging, and per diem costs for lecturers or convening participants. 

Centers should leverage the visionary nature of their research to promote a more informed public discourse about AI through education and outreach efforts and to actively build the next generation of scholars. Centers are encouraged to include educational and public programming to increase AI literacy at the K-12 as well as college and university levels. Centers are also encouraged to enhance public awareness of humanities perspectives on AI. 

Application Instructions

Please submit, preferably as one combined pdf labeled with PI’s Lastname, Firstname:

1. A one‐page letter of intent with a description of proposed aims and approach.
2. If the final application requires a diversity statement or statement of broader impacts, please summarize your plans to address the specific requirements on an additional page.
3. CV (not biosketch) of the PI including past grant funding.

to limitedsubs@uw.edu by 5:00 PM Wednesday, November 6, 2024. Proposals are due to the sponsor 12/11/2024, so you will need to have your materials in to the Office of Sponsored Programs by 12/2/2024 if given the go‐ahead by the Limited Submissions review committee.