The University of Toronto has announced the establishment of the Hinton Chair in Artificial Intelligence, backed by a $10 million investment from Google, aimed at recruiting and retaining top-tier AI talent. This initiative honors the legacy of Geoffrey Hinton, a University Professor Emeritus and Nobel laureate, by enhancing research capabilities in artificial intelligence at the institution.
“On behalf of the university, I would like to express our deepest gratitude to Google for this wonderful investment,” said Melanie A. Woodin, president of the University of Toronto. The funding will support ongoing research in AI, building on Hinton’s groundbreaking contributions to the field, which have had a far-reaching impact globally.
In a bid to match Google’s contribution, U of T is providing an additional $10 million, creating a total endowment of $20 million for this prestigious chair. The Hinton Chair is part of U of T’s new Third-Century Chairs program, designed to attract visionary scholars capable of transforming disciplines and fostering innovation.
“Google is proud to partner with the University of Toronto in establishing this endowed chair, recognizing the extraordinary impact of Geoff Hinton,” stated Jeff Dean, chief scientist at Google DeepMind and Google Research. “This chair will empower world-class academic scholars to accelerate breakthrough innovations and drive responsible research that shapes a future where AI serves a common good.”
The creation of the Hinton Chair comes at a time when the competition for top talent in AI is intensifying. The Canadian government has recently pledged $1.7 billion towards attracting global research talent, underscoring the importance of expertise in AI for the country’s future. This chair will not only benefit researchers but also provide mentorship opportunities for talented students, fostering innovation across various disciplines including medicine, engineering, and the humanities.
Building on Hinton’s Revolutionary Research
The Hinton Chair aims to continue the innovative research that Hinton has pursued throughout his career. After receiving his PhD from the University of Edinburgh in 1978, Hinton joined the University of Toronto in 1987. His work on artificial neural networks laid the groundwork for advancements in AI, introducing key concepts such as backpropagation algorithms and deep learning techniques. He later joined Google in 2013, where he further developed his ideas while maintaining his academic role.
Hinton’s influence extends beyond his research; he has mentored a generation of AI scholars who have made significant contributions to the field. “I am grateful for having been able to pursue my research at the University of Toronto, which afforded me the time and resources to develop the ideas that would eventually grow into the success of neural nets,” Hinton said. The establishment of the Hinton Chair is seen as a way to support the next wave of AI research and innovation.
The University of Toronto has been recognized as a world leader in AI education and research, with its computer science department ranked 12th globally according to the 2025 QS World University Rankings. The Hinton Chair will leverage this reputation and enhance the university’s existing strengths in the field.
Complementing its educational efforts, U of T has been a breeding ground for several successful AI startups, such as BlueDot, Waabi, and Deep Genomics, showcasing the practical applications of AI research. It has also produced numerous award-winning faculty members and students, further solidifying its status as a hub for AI expertise.
“It’s thrilling to consider the astonishing possibilities of welcoming a globally leading AI researcher into this setting,” said Stephen Wright, Interim Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Science. The department’s proven track record of research excellence provides a fertile environment for groundbreaking discoveries.
The partnership between Google and U of T has a long history, with both entities working together to advance AI research in Toronto. Establishing the Hinton Chair represents a significant step forward in this collaboration. “We are extremely grateful to Google for partnering with us to establish a chair dedicated to cutting-edge research on the defining technology of our time,” said David Palmer, U of T vice-president of advancement.
As AI continues to evolve, initiatives like the Hinton Chair will play a pivotal role in driving responsible research and fostering innovation that benefits society at large. This endeavor not only honors Geoffrey Hinton’s legacy but also aims to cultivate the next generation of scholars who will shape the future of artificial intelligence.
See also
Deep Learning Model EfficientECG Achieves 95% Accuracy in Rapid ECG Classification
Apple Reveals M4 Chip with 38 Trillion Operations/Second, Boosting iPad AI Performance
Titans and MIRAS Combine RNN Speed with Transformer Accuracy for Real-Time AI Memory
Stanford Dropout Carina Hong Raises $64M, Attracts Top Meta AI Talent to Axiom Math
