The 5,000-square-foot facility, located on the northwest corner of Fayetteville and Lawson streets, cost $7.2 million and was funded in part by a $1 million grant from Google and an equipment investment from Lenovo.
The building will serve as a hands-on hub for AI literacy, robotics, machine learning, extended reality and ethical technology development. University leaders say the institute positions NCCU students to lead in a rapidly evolving field.
Inside the building, a central space for collaboration is surrounded by the AI Literacy Studio, Machine Learning and Data Science Studio, Robotics and Emerging Tech Lab, XR Innovation Sandbox, Ethics and Governance Classroom, and Innovation Atrium.
Chancellor Dr. Karrie G. Dixon said the timing is critical as artificial intelligence accelerates across industries.
"When I think about AI, I think about the fact that technology continues to move faster than trust," she said. "What we have to do is build that trust around usage of AI in a responsible and ethical way. We're helping our students prepare for careers that work for North Carolina and beyond. AI is just going to enhance everything that we're doing in a responsible and ethical way."
Students and faculty toured the new building during Monday's ribbon-cutting ceremony, exploring labs designed to encourage experimentation and innovation.
Emerging leader and student, David Goings, who studies information technology, said the institute opens doors for student creativity. "I hope it gives students an opportunity to express themselves in AI," he said. "I hope it sparks an idea that hopefully can change the world for the better."
Founding director Dr. Siobahn Day Grady, an associate professor in NCCU's School of Library and Information Sciences, said the project has been years in the making. "This generation of students is not like our generation. They think differently. They want to be involved and feel like they're a part of their learning," she said. "We have two opportunities when you're the first at something. You can either be someone who rests on your laurels or set the pathway for others to follow. And I believe that we're doing the latter."
U.S. Rep. Valerie Foushee weighed in on the historic event. "Our future cannot be built by a few tech moguls and billionaires," said Foushee. "The breakthroughs of tomorrow will not just be from Silicon Valley and the largest universities.
Alumni also shared excitement about the institute's impact. Pebbles Lucas, reflecting on her undergraduate years, said today's students have tools she never imagined. "I remember the dictionary I had to look up every word. Now I could just go on my telephone, check ChatGPT and hit a word, and then they give you the synonyms and the antonyms. Everything that you could think of."
More than 150 people attended the opening, celebrating NCCU's leadership in emerging technology and the significance of being the first HBCU with an AI institute. Goings said the achievement fuels campus pride. "It's amazing. We're the first and we know we're the best. We're Eagles. We soar above all the rest."
As artificial intelligence continues reshaping education nationwide, NCCU leaders say the institute ensures students are not just keeping pace; they are helping define the future.
Starting in fall 2026, a minor in AI will be offered through the NCCU Department of Mathematics and Physics.
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