Artificial Intelligence, or AI, is no longer just a concept for the future. It is actively transforming how we work, live, and communicate. From voice assistants and predictive healthcare to self-driving cars and fraud detection, AI drives innovation across every industry. As the demand for skilled professionals continues to grow, Lewis University is launching a new master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence.

Lewis University’s Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence is designed for professionals looking to expand their expertise in this rapidly growing field. This program emphasizes real-world applications, ethics, data analysis, and machine learning, giving students both technical skills and a strong ethical foundation. Courses are taught by experienced faculty who understand the evolving AI landscape and the need to stay ahead.

Students in Lewis University’s Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence program study deep learning, natural language processing, and the ethics of AI. The program features project-based learning and flexible course options, preparing graduates for roles in AI development, strategy, and implementation.

According to the World Economic Forum, AI and automation are expected to create 97 million new jobs worldwide by 2025, providing more opportunities for those skilled in designing, implementing, and managing AI systems responsibly. This graduate program prepares you for a career in data science, robotics, cybersecurity, and more, regardless of your background in computer science, engineering, business, or healthcare.

What sets Lewis University apart is its focus on personalized learning. The program offers flexible formats, including online and hybrid options, allowing students to balance career growth with current responsibilities. Students benefit from small class sizes, hands-on projects, and strong professional networking opportunities.

By earning a master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence from Lewis University, students gain knowledge, but also become leaders in one of the most dynamic and in-demand fields today.

To learn more or to apply today, visit https://www.lewisu.edu/academics/msai/.

Lewis University

One University Parkway

Romeoville, IL 60446

(815) 838-0500

www.lewisu.edu

With artificial intelligence driving growth, New York is home to the world’s second most valuable startup ecosystem, according to the latest report from Startup Genome. In previous years, the Big Apple was tied with London, which has slipped to third place. This is great news as AI is transforming industries—from financial services to Main Street shops and restaurants—and revolutionizing the way we do business. As this technology reshapes how we learn, communicate and conduct transactions, it is crucial that we ensure the next generation is equipped to use it responsibly, creatively and ethically. We must ensure, too, that New York and the United States continue to lead the AI revolution.

Across sectors, AI is enhancing accuracy, streamlining processes and driving better decision-making. It’s automating repetitive tasks and improving efficiencies. For small businesses, AI levels the playing field by enabling faster customer service and more targeted and effective marketing strategies. These advances are opening opportunities once out of reach for many entrepreneurs, enabling them to scale, compete and succeed. The technology is revolutionizing healthcare, government services and disaster preparedness, too.

As we move into an era where AI is embedded in everything, tech literacy is essential. We need to make sure our students are well-equipped to strategically use and build with these tools before they enter the workforce. This underscores the need for more developers and students in STEM fields generally. Local startups are already building the next generation of AI-powered tools that will fuel the economy of the future, and many of these entrepreneurs will come from communities like the Bronx, where Lehman College is integrating AI to motivate students to be creative and harness these tools to nurture intellectual growth.

Education in AI must go beyond simple use cases––it must also emphasize the values that should guide its application. We must ensure that the ethical guidelines we set for AI are not just theoretical, but practically integrated into the development and use of this technology. Contrast this with what we’re seeing in countries like China, where AI is being used for authoritarian purposes—tracking citizens, suppressing dissent and controlling access to information. This is why we must ensure the US leads in both open- and closed-source AI. While China is rapidly advancing in AI and utilizing the technology to spread authoritarian values globally, every state has a role to play to ensure we are not undermining our own ability to lead on all AI development fronts.

Digital inclusion is paramount. Let’s acknowledge the digital divide by proposing targeted investments in under-resourced neighborhoods, ensuring that Bronx-based students and entrepreneurs have not only the tools but also mentorship and initial seed funding to launch the next breakthrough AI startup or at least give them a chance.

Now, to truly maximize New York’s potential as a global leader in AI, we must do more than just prepare our students. We must ensure the government properly invests in education, supports local startups and encourages businesses and institutions of higher learning to embrace AI-powered solutions. At the same time, lawmakers must avoid enacting laws that could suppress innovation or create barriers to the adoption of AI technologies. Regulations should promote both open and closed source models, ensuring New York’s AI ecosystem remains robust and accessible to the state’s innovators. If we fail to do so, we risk undermining the entrepreneurial spirit that makes New York’s tech ecosystem so valuable and sending our brightest minds to other states or countries with more supportive regulatory environments.

The next breakthrough in AI should come from a startup founded by a CUNY or University of Mount Saint Vincent graduate right here in New York City. By equipping our students with the right skills, ethical guidance and entrepreneurial support, we can ensure that New York remains a leader in this transformative field and that our workforce is prepared to meet the challenges and opportunities of the AI-driven future.

Lawrence Fauntleroy is Vice President of Strategy at the University of Mount Saint Vincent. Sean Stein Smith, DBA, CPA, is an Associate Professor of Accounting at City University of New York’s Lehman College.

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Artificial intelligence systems like ChatGPT are notorious for being power-hungry. To tackle this challenge, a team from the Centre for Optics, Photonics and Lasers (COPL) has come up with an optical chip that can transfer massive amounts of data at ultra-high speed. As thin as a strand of hair, this technology offers unrivalled energy efficiency.

Published in Nature Photonics, the innovation harnesses the power of light to transmit information. Unlike traditional systems that rely solely on light intensity, this chip also uses the phase of light, in other words, its shift.

By adding a new dimension to the signal, the system reaches unprecedented performance levels, all while maintaining a tiny size. “We’re jumping from 56 gigabits per second to 1,000 gigabits per second,” says PhD student Alireza Geravand, the first author of the study.

The equivalent of 100 million books transferred in 7 minutes

The research team sees massive potential for training AI models. “At 1,000 gigabits per second, you could transfer an entire training dataset—the equivalent of over 100 million books—in under seven minutes. That’s about the time it takes to brew a cup of coffee,” Geravand adds. And all of this would only consume 4 joules of energy—just enough to heat one millilitre of water by one degree Celsius.

The breakthrough relies on microring modulators—tiny ring-shaped devices made from silicon that can manipulate light to encode information. The system uses two pairs of rings: one for intensity, the other for phase.

Today’s AI data centres rely on tens or even hundreds of thousands of processors, communicating like neurons in the brain. Each processor spans a few millimetres, but when you add it all up, the infrastructure quickly becomes enormous, and so does the energy to power it. “You end up with a system that’s kilometres long,” says the PhD student. With their new technology, the units can communicate quickly and efficiently as if they were only a few metres apart—a considerable advantage as AI demand continues to grow.

This technology could hit the market in the coming years. Companies like NVIDIA are already starting to use microring modulators albeit limited to light intensity.

“Ten years ago, our lab laid the groundwork for this technology. Today, we’re taking it to the next level. Maybe in a few years, the industry will catch up, and this innovation will make its way into the real world,” Geravand concludes.

Reference: Geravand A, Zheng Z, Shateri F, Levasseur S, Rusch LA, Shi W. Ultrafast coherent dynamics of microring modulators. Nat Photon. 2025;19(7):740-750. doi: 10.1038/s41566-025-01686-1

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