An Indiana University alumnus who founded a technology company has donated $60 million to IU for the creation of an artificial intelligence center.
ServiceNow founder Fred Luddy made the donation, which is the second-largest private gift IU has ever received. ServiceNow is a cloud computing company based in Santa Clara, California.
IU says Luddy's $60 million donation will finance the creation of an artificial intelligence initiative focused on digital health. It will be based in what's now known as the IU Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering, but will be renamed the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering.
"I believe in the importance of people," Luddy said in a news release. "It is the imagination and determination of people that drive technology that makes an impact in real lives. My path has been shaped by the people who inspire me, who guide me to pursue the next innovation with the potential to transform everything. This gift will allow the next generation of researchers and students to bring together their knowledge, wisdom and ideas to create things that we never thought possible."
The New Castle, Indiana, native's gift includes funding for construction of a building that will house the artificial intelligence center. It will be named the Luddy Center for Artificial Intelligence.