University's chief AI and data science officer joins faculty

The College of Engineering's next faculty member, David Ebert, will be the University of Arizona's first chief AI and data science officer.
The University of Arizona announced that David Ebert, an internationally recognized expert in artificial intelligence and data science, will join the university as its first chief AI and data science officer.
His recruitment to the U of A was made possible in part by a $3.5 million gift from an anonymous donor. The gift established the Computer Science Engineering Endowed Innovation Chair, of which Ebert is the inaugural holder.
Ebert will serve as the strategic architect for the university's AI and data science vision – leading an integrated, interdisciplinary program that builds on existing U of A strengths and is designed to accelerate innovation, expand research capacity and advance the university's role as a global leader in the responsible application of AI and machine learning.
In addition to the appointment, Ebert will join the College of Engineering as a tenured faculty member in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. His research centers on using visual analytics, explainable AI, human–computer teaming, and predictive analytics to tackle complex data challenges.