Standing at the Help of AI Innovation

For Dr. Guiling “Grace” Wang, her journey into computer science is a testament to resilience, adaptability, and a pursuit of passion. Born and raised in China, her path to this field was shaped by a highly competitive college entrance examination system that determined both the university and major a student could pursue based on their exam score. Initially, Wang chose biochemistry, a prestigious and high-scoring major, but soon realized that her interests lay elsewhere. Drawn to logical and abstract thinking, she set her sights on computer science. With the option to change majors after her first year, Wang applied for a spot in the software department, competing against top students from math and engineering backgrounds. After completing a four-year curriculum in just three years, her hard work laid the foundation for a successful and fulfilling career in computer science.

Pushing the Boundaries of Technology
After completing her bachelor’s degree in China, Wang worked at a software company in Shanghai while preparing for her graduate record examination (GRE) Subject Test. Coming to the U.S. to earn her Ph.D. at Penn State, Wang focused on distributed systems and algorithms, fascinated by how they mirrored societal decision-making processes. Although she was always intrigued by AI, it wasn’t until around 2015, when advancements in data collection, computational power, and AI algorithms aligned, that she fully committed to this field.

In 2016, after being promoted to full professor, Wang gained the freedom to dive deeper into AI and blockchain technology. This opportunity came at a pivotal time for both her career and the industry. Her research at AI and distributed systems led to significant achievements, including a project on decentralized vehicle credential management recognized by the FHWA. “My work in AI has been focused on applying foundational algorithms in novel ways to solve real-world problems,” shares Wang. “For example, I applied convolutional neural networks (CNN), originally designed for image recognition, to traffic demand prediction.” This concept garnered praise from Yann LeCun, the creator of CNN. Additionally, her team pioneered the use of deep reinforcement learning for traffic intersection control, winning a society Best Paper Award for its impact.

Throughout her career, Professor Wang’s dedication to innovation has been driven by a belief in AI’s potential to solve long-standing challenges and transform industries, a commitment reflected in both her groundbreaking research and her passion for pushing the boundaries of technology. Today, Professor Wang, Ph.D., CFA, is a Distinguished Professor of Computer Science and serves as the Associate Dean for Research and External Relations at the Ying Wu College of Computing, New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). She established the AI Center for Research at NJIT, serving as its Founding Director, and played a pivotal role in launching NJIT’s MS in AI program. Professor Wang has earned the prestigious title of Fellow from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), making history as the first female IEEE Fellow at NJIT. She is also recognized as a Fellow of the Asia-Pacific Artificial Intelligence Association (AAIA).

Creating a Hub for AI Research and Innovation
As the Founding Director of NJIT’s AI Center for Research, Wang’s vision was to create a platform that bridges AI with specialized expertise to address real-world challenges. “I recognized that while NJIT may not have the same resources as some larger institutions, we possess unique strengths in fields such as transportation, finance, and solar science,” says Wang. “The goal was never to develop a revolutionary AI model like ChatGPT, but to leverage AI to solve practical, impactful problems within these specialized fields. My vision is rooted in fostering collaboration between AI researchers and domain experts, and by combining the strengths of both groups, we can deliver cutting-edge solutions in areas like traffic optimization, predictive finance modeling, and solar science.”

Through this approach, NJIT applies AI to real-life issues, driving meaningful innovation that contributes to societal progress. “New Jersey is a dynamic state with a dense, diverse population, close proximity to major markets, and a strong presence of both established corporations and startups,” explains Wang. “We have an impressive higher education network, where we’re home to institutions like Princeton, Rutgers, NJIT, Stevens Institute of Technology, and Montclair State University. We’re also close to Wall Street where there is financial capital available.”

“In looking at our partner, Edge, this regional network has done a great job leveraging all these resources and the uniqueness of New Jersey to build a collaborative framework,” continues Wang. “From their services, network, and online resources to the publications and community events, Edge fosters collaboration and allows members to showcase their talents and share their data and knowledge to build our collective strength. All these advantages make New Jersey an ideal location for this type of collaborative work in expanding our knowledge of advanced technology. We aim to make the AI Center for Research a hub of activity across numerous vectors that promote research partnerships and position NJIT at the forefront of AI-powered problem-solving in our region.”

When reflecting on the long-standing collaboration with NJIT, Dr. Forough Ghahramani, Assistant Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Sponsored Programs, Edge, says, “Our partnership with NJIT highlights the critical role of powerful high-performance network connectivity in advancing research and education. Together, we are leveraging cutting-edge technologies to empower researchers, educators, and students, accelerating innovation and driving impactful solutions for the challenges of tomorrow.”

Building the Future of AI
In April 2020, NJIT began exploring the addition of an M.S. program in Artificial Intelligence. “The program was conceived to address both the evolving needs of the tech industry and NJIT’s mission to offer innovative, cutting-edge education,” shares Wang. “At the beginning, AI wasn’t perceived as having widespread demand and there was some skepticism about launching such a program. Some colleagues expressed concerns that this venture might be premature and would require too much work. However, we strongly believed in the transformative potential of AI and the growing demand for expertise in the field. The process involved multiple stages of curriculum development, course creation, and rigorous approval procedures.”

During development, one of the foundational courses created was Natural Language Processing, which plays a crucial role in larger language models. “This course, along with others, was proposed and discussed in collaboration with colleagues, ensuring that the curriculum was comprehensive and aligned with industry needs,” explains Wang. “After receiving approval for these courses from NJIT’s Committee on Graduate Education, the next phase was to develop the program proposal for the M.S. in AI. The proposal went through a multi-layered approval process, beginning with the NJIT Faculty Senate, which gave its endorsement in November 2021. Following this, the program was announced to over thirty universities across New Jersey for feedback. With positive responses, the program moved forward with formal submissions to the New Jersey Department of Education and other regulatory bodies. By April 2022, NJIT began the process of complying with new standards for academic degree programs, which required submitting updated forms.”

By September 2022, the program had undergone external review from Dr. Jim Handler, a fellow of IEEE, ACM, and AAAI, who evaluated NJIT’s resources, faculty, and infrastructure to ensure the program’s viability. “After Dr. Handler’s site visit and a thorough review process, the program received approvals from the NJIT Budget Office, Faculty Senate, and the Board of Trustees, moving it closer to its official launch,” says Wang. “Later in the Spring of 2023, after receiving final approvals from New Jersey’s Academic Integrity Committee and the New Jersey President’s Council, the program was officially greenlit. By summer 2023, NJIT launched the M.S. in Artificial Intelligence program, positioning the university as a leader in AI education and offering students opportunities to explore interdisciplinary research and collaborate with experts in fields like solar science, finance, and transportation.”

“The launch of this program marks a significant milestone in NJIT’s efforts to prepare students for the growing AI-driven job market,” continues Wang. “The program is not only a response to AI’s rising prominence, but also a reflection of NJIT’s commitment to providing students with practical skills through hands-on learning, capstone projects, and industry partnerships. Through this degree, NJIT aims to train the next generation of AI professionals and contribute to the development of the evolving AI ecosystem.”

Establishing Ethical and Effective AI Governance
As the only academic representative on the New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on AI and the Courts and a contributor to the Governor’s AI Taskforce AI Innovation Group, Wang acknowledges the transformative power AI has had on our lives and society. “AI has reshaped various sectors, including the legal system, and while it presents remarkable opportunities, this technology also introduces new challenges that require careful governance and oversight. I am honored to serve as the only academic representative on the New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on AI and the Courts and in the Governor’s AI Taskforce AI Innovation SubGroup. These roles have provided me with valuable insights into both the potential benefits and risks of integrating AI into legal and governmental frameworks.”

One of the pressing concerns in AI governance is ensuring fairness in automated decision-making systems. AI models learn from historical data, which may contain biases that can result in unintended discrimination in areas such as hiring, and credit decisions. Additionally, large language models can exhibit hallucination problems, generating inaccurate or misleading information. Given these risks, the use of AI in legal and governmental settings must be approached with caution and guided by clear policies and ethical considerations. “The New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on Artificial Intelligence released preliminary guidelines on AI usage in January,” explains Wang. “As stated in the Guidelines, ‘In furtherance of its responsibility to uphold the highest level of professionalism among lawyers, the New Jersey Supreme Court seeks to balance the benefits of innovation whilst safeguarding against the potential harms of misuse. To that end, the Court here provides preliminary guidelines on the use of AI to support lawyers who practice in New Jersey and the clients who depend on those lawyers.’”

As the potential of AI continues to unfold, it becomes clear that this advanced technology can play a pivotal role in enhancing access to essential services. “AI has the potential to significantly improve access to legal and government services, particularly for underrepresented and economically disadvantaged communities,” says Wang. “AI-powered legal assistance can help individuals navigate legal processes more efficiently, while automated public service tools can streamline administrative tasks and improve response times. Multilingual AI systems can further enhance accessibility for non-English speakers, ensuring equitable access to legal resources. AI governance is about more than just regulation; it is also about fostering responsible innovation. While regulatory frameworks are essential to mitigate risks, they should also encourage AI research and development that benefits society. Policymakers must strike a balance between protecting public interests and enabling technological advancements.”

The Role of Diversity in AI Innovation and Leadership
Research has consistently shown that while the average IQ scores for men and women are nearly identical, their cognitive strengths often manifest in different domains. Men tend to excel in spatial reasoning tasks, whereas women often outperform in verbal intelligence and memory-related skills. These differences, however, extend beyond individual abilities—they also influence the broader landscape of innovation, particularly in fields like AI. “Gender diversity plays a critical role in fostering innovation in AI,” says Wang. “Diversity in AI is not just about representation or societal impact—it directly contributes to more effective problem solving and system optimization. Since AI systems learn from data and build models based on algorithms, ensuring diverse cognitive viewpoints helps mitigate biases and enhances problem-solving efficiency. If the perspectives shaping these systems are homogeneous, AI development risks reinforcing limitations and failing to fully leverage the strengths that arise from different cognitive abilities.”

Being the first female IEEE Fellow at NJIT represents more than just a personal achievement for Wang; the accolade marks a significant step toward broader representation in the field of AI. “Recognitions like this help break stereotypes and inspire future generations of underrepresented groups to pursue leadership roles in AI, further enhancing diversity and innovation in the field. Acknowledging women based on merit, rather than gender, is essential to fostering diversity and innovation.”

“Such recognition helps combat social bias, encourages more women to pursue careers in AI, and enables them to realize their full potential—ultimately benefiting both society and the scientific field,” continues Wang. “In terms of leadership, success in AI requires a balance of technical expertise, emotional intelligence, interpersonal skills, and visionary thinking. Gender diversity strengthens leadership by bringing in a wider range of perspectives and problem-solving approaches, contributing to more inclusive and effective decision-making.”

Addressing the Ethical and Societal Impacts of AI
To address the new ethical and societal challenges posed by AI, Wang says we can approach the problem from two perspectives. “The White-Box Approach involves analyzing AI systems in a transparent and interpretable manner to pinpoint specific components or processes that contribute to ethical concerns. By understanding which aspects of the AI system introduce challenges, we can develop targeted countermeasures, such as refining training data, improving model interpretability, or implementing fairness constraints. In cases where AI models are too complex or opaque for direct examination, the Black-Box Approach focuses exclusively on their outcomes. This requires quantitative evaluation of AI’s societal impact through auditing and fairness assessment methods. If discrepancies or biases are identified in real-world applications, appropriate interventions and policy adjustments can be implemented to mitigate harm.”

Beyond these technical approaches, some challenges related to the adoption of AI are rooted in social and psychological factors. “Public skepticism, misinformation, and fear of AI can influence its perception and acceptance,” notes Wang. “Therefore, AI education for the general public is essential to foster informed discussions and responsible adoption. Encouragingly, I have observed a strong and growing public interest in AI, which presents an opportunity to enhance awareness and ensure its ethical integration into society. As AI continues to advance, promoting transparency, fairness, and ethical accountability, alongside increasing public awareness, will be key to ensuring that AI benefits society as a whole. By integrating these efforts, we can navigate the complexities of AI adoption and create a future where innovation is both responsible and inclusive.”