Mark Riedl, Githesh Ramamurthy, Vivek Sarkar

School of IC Professor Receives Endowed Professorship

Nathan Deen
College of ComputingSchool of Interactive Computing
Artificial Intelligence

Since the rise of large language models and generative AI chatbots, Mark Riedl has devoted much of his research efforts to explainable AI (XAI). 

Riedl has earned a reputation as one of the leading researchers in the field. His Entertainment Intelligence and Human-Centered AI Lab explores how everyday AI tools can be more transparent and trustworthy.

Riedl will have the opportunity to expand that research thanks to a new endowed professorship given to the College of Computing at Georgia Tech. 

Riedl, a professor in the School of Interactive Computing, is the inaugural Githesh Ramamurthy Professor in AI.

Ramamurthy (MS ICS 1983) is chairman and CEO of CCC Intelligent Solutions, a cloud-based platform that uses AI and analytics to automate auto insurance claims and collision repair support.

Ramamurthy hopes the endowment will further advance AI and shape its future.

“AI is a tremendous force multiplier,” Ramamurthy said. “I see AI evolving in a multidisciplinary way that will accelerate engineering, biology, robotics, and more.”

Riedl said the endowment funds will boost his XAI research and allow him to focus on its practical uses for everyday consumers.

“It allows me to accelerate my research and increases my resources for research that might otherwise not have been funded,” Riedl said.

“We want to make AI safer, more trustworthy, and better support people in their everyday activities and decision-making tasks. We want these AI systems to be good partners and trustworthy assistants.”

College of Computing Dean Vivek Sakar appointed Riedl to the endowed professorship.

“It’s an honor given that anyone in our College of Computing faculty could’ve been chosen,” Riedl said. “A large part of our research community at Georgia Tech has faith that the research I’m doing is impactful and meaningful.”

Riedl was also named the new director of the Machine Learning Center at Georgia Tech earlier this year. He takes over ML@GT from Ifran Essa, who served 10 years as the inaugural director.