University of Notre Dame has secured a historic $50.8 million grant from the Lilly Endowment to enhance the DELTA Network, an expansion of its faith-based AI ethics framework developed by the University’s Institute for Ethics and the Common Good. This funding represents the largest private foundation grant in Notre Dame’s history.
Provost John McGreevy emphasized the importance of this initiative, noting in a statement to The Observer that “the Lilly Endowment’s landmark investment reflects the responsibility of a leading global Catholic research university to engage the ethical challenges posed by artificial intelligence.” He added that this work aligns with Notre Dame’s mission to provide moral leadership rooted in faith in discussions that shape the future.
The DELTA framework, which stands for dignity, embodiment, love, transcendence, and agency, is grounded in “principles and values from Christian traditions,” while also being accessible to individuals from various faith perspectives, according to a press release accompanying the grant announcement.
Adam Kronk, director of research and external engagement for the Institute, stated that this grant is an investment in “human formation in the age of powerful artificial intelligence.” Kronk is responsible for implementing the DELTA framework and expressed hopes to inform a broad audience on how to engage with AI in their daily lives. “We want to make sure that we’re preserving and promoting key elements of our human existence as this technology plays a bigger role in each dimension of our day,” he remarked.
Julia French, program manager for the grant, revealed that approximately 200 benchmarking calls have been conducted with diverse stakeholders, including technologists, AI developers, educators, and students. Focus groups have been established in cities like San Francisco, Boston, Washington, D.C., and Notre Dame to gather insights.
“Part of our hope with the DELTA project is that we’re going to provide networking and programming materials to bring together all of these different stakeholders and push forward the DELTA framework,” French said. A central focus of the project is exploring the necessary human formation for engaging with AI technology.
The funding from Lilly Endowment will help build a network of “interdisciplinary and intergenerational communities of practice focused on education, pastoral ministry, and public engagement,” as stated in the press release. The grant will also support the establishment of “hubs” in both Silicon Valley and the Northeast to foster dialogues with tech leaders and the public about the DELTA framework.
Plans also include developing a signature DELTA course for university-level education that focuses on AI ethics. Senior student Mary Jordan, who participated in a panel on DELTA, remarked, “To have the highest private grant ever awarded to Notre Dame be within the Institute for Ethics and the Common Good says a lot about Notre Dame and its values. This framework reminds us of the value of human life and connection with real human beings. AI shouldn’t replace that.”
Editor’s note: Meghan Sullivan, director of the Institute for Ethics and the Common Good, has authored a series of letters to the editor about DELTA, which can be read here.
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