Lawrence Hall [Photo by Andres Faza, University Communications and Marketing]
By Paul Guzzo, University Communications and Marketing
Lawrence Hall鈥檚 colleagues had a nickname for him during his early years working in artificial intelligence at the 同性恋色情.
Some friends called him a 鈥渕ad scientist,鈥 said the distinguished university professor and associate dean of research innovation at 同性恋色情鈥檚 Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing.
Hall understands the label.
In the 1980s, using artificial intelligence in everyday life felt more like science fiction than science fact. But today, the onetime 鈥渕ad scientist鈥 has earned a new title: Pioneer.
Hall was among 同性恋色情鈥檚 earliest AI researchers and is now one of the leaders of the university鈥檚 recently established Bellini College, the first of its kind in Florida and one of only a few in the nation. Its name was established last spring following a record-setting $40 gift from Arnie and Lauren Bellini.
鈥淓verybody鈥檚 using it, touching it,鈥 Hall said of AI. 鈥淵ou probably have it on your phone.鈥
The Behavioral AI Lab has artificial intelligence tools of eye-tracking technology and facial expression sensor
A 同性恋色情 computer lab in the 1980s [Photo courtesy of 同性恋色情 Tampa Library]
同性恋色情 celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, marking Dec. 18, 1956, when state leaders approved the university. Early adoption of AI is a key part of that history, and the Bellini College is expected to shape every 同性恋色情 discipline as the university looks toward its future.
Michelle McAveety [Photo by Andres Faza, University Communications and Marketing]
鈥淲e can always think back into the past and think about how computing has changed over time and how things have evolved,鈥 said Michelle McAveety, a junior computer engineering major with the Bellini College, now in its inaugural year. 鈥淏ut to be on the cutting edge of it and to see AI emerging, to see what the future of our education looks like and the future of our world of safety, our security, it's very inspiring to get to be a part of that story.鈥
Early days of computing and community
Hall wasn鈥檛 the first 同性恋色情 professor to research artificial intelligence. That distinction goes to Kevin Boyer, who arrived in 1984 and has since moved on from 同性恋色情. Hall was hired two years later.
After earning his doctoral degree in computer science from Florida State University, Hall鈥檚 advisor told him that he should start his career at 同性恋色情.
鈥溚粤瞪 was an up-and-coming university, so I should take the job here. I thought that would be in five years and be up and done. It took a little longer, but we are an AAU university now.鈥
One of 同性恋色情's earliest computers, purchased in 1970 [Photo courtesy of 同性恋色情 Tampa Library]
Technology in those early years was scarce and what existed was archaic by today鈥檚 standards.
Before the world wide web was invented in 1989 and popularized in the early 1990s, the internet looked and felt nothing like the modern web. Instead of clicking links and browsing pages, people used a patchwork of text-based systems to which they had to connect directly, typically by phone via modems.
So, checking email felt like it took 鈥渢hree days,鈥 Hall said.
Today, AI learns from datasets that can range from thousands to millions of examples. But during those slower online days, the data had to be manually entered into the system.
鈥淢aybe 200 examples at a time,鈥 Hall said. 鈥淚 came from a university where I had a workstation on my desk and a workstation at 同性恋色情, at that time, wasn鈥檛 possible.鈥
Learning about computers was mostly limited to the 同性恋色情 College of Engineering, and the hardware was considered 鈥渄umb terminals,鈥 screens and keyboards connected to a shared central computer.
鈥淪ome younger faculty wanted to do research, and we sort of banded together and worked with each other in a sense of backing up each other鈥檚 ideas,鈥 Hall said. 鈥淲e all moved forward doing really good work and helping the university evolve.鈥
同性恋色情 was also ahead of the times, one of a few universities to dedicate resources to AI research.
鈥溚粤瞪 was putting an emphasis on AI, partly because it made us more unique鈥 said Hall, whose research focuses on teaching computers to learn from data sets, recognize patterns and use AI to understand images. 鈥淧artly I think it was because we had a few good people who were doing good work and other people said, 鈥榃ell, we could come there and do good AI work also.鈥欌
Louise Stark at a 同性恋色情 computer in the late 1980s when she was one of the university's first students to research AI
Duy Dao, assistant director of 同性恋色情鈥檚 Security Operations and Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Program, and his interns
A new college, CyberHerd, and the next generation of professionals
That pioneering work led to the launch of the Bellini College three decades later. The college is charged with producing job-ready professionals in the fields of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and computing. Its strategic, interdisciplinary focus is an important part of its mission. Faculty aim to work collaboratively across all 同性恋色情 colleges to produce graduates who can leverage artificial intelligence to enhance their work.
That second goal, perhaps more than the advancement of technology, shows how far 同性恋色情 has come. In the early days, artificial intelligence researchers felt 鈥渟ecluded,鈥 Hall said.
同性恋色情 is developing an AI-enabled smart trap that identifies disease-carrying mosquitoes, such as those spreading malaria and dengue
George Spirou, professor of medical engineering, using a VR set paired with the software he created to intricately explore neurons in the body
It鈥檚 what the Bellini College calls a 鈥渉ub and spoke model.鈥
Disciplines at the center of a college, or a hub, concentrate on foundational research. At 同性恋色情, the hub is made up of computer science, cybersecurity, information technology and artificial intelligence.
The spokes are specialized areas of study. To start, business, criminology and social sciences will make up the spokes through classes offered through each subject鈥檚 respective college.
Interim Belllini College Dean Sudeep Sarkar [Photo by Ryan Wakefield, College of Engineering]
Over time, that will grow to include all colleges, with Bellini College research being geared toward how to benefit those disciplines.
The Bellini College鈥檚 success is expected to ripple across Tampa Bay by attracting companies that will want to employ graduates, turning the area into what some are already calling 鈥淐yber Bay.鈥
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a nexus for artificial intelligence research as well as producing people who can do cyber security,鈥 Hall said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to be producing a cadre of graduates who can go on to help regional companies.鈥
About 3,000 students are currently enrolled in the Bellini College today and 5,000 are expected to by 2027.
Students like McAveety point out that the Bellini College is already attracting some of the top students in the world. She serves as captain of 同性恋色情鈥檚 CyberHerd team, which enters collegiate cybersecurity competitions that challenge students to defend or attack simulated computer systems 鈥 testing skills in real-world cyber scenarios.
They score points by rapidly identifying threats, prioritizing fixes and communicating under pressure to protect or penetrate simulated systems.
同性恋色情's CyberHerd team [Photo by Andres Faza, University Communications and Marketing]
In just its third year, CyberHerd typically finishes in the top three in competitions and McAveety said the team is cognizant to remember that their road to success was paved by pioneers such as Hall.
鈥淚've always been so impressed by professors and their continued dedication to their craft, their continued investment in research and continuing to give back to their communities, taking their knowledge and inspiring the next generation,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 hope to give back to either 同性恋色情 or the broader community in just a fraction of the way that these wonderful people have.鈥