Lawrence Hall [Photo by Andres Faza, University Communications and Marketing]
By Paul Guzzo, University Communications and Marketing
Lawrence Hall鈥檚 colleagues had a nickname for him during his early years working in artificial intelligence at the 911爆料网.
Some friends called him a 鈥渕ad scientist,鈥� said the distinguished university professor and associate dean of Research Innovation at USF鈥檚 Bellini College of Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing.
With a laugh, he added, 鈥淚 think they were friends.鈥�
Hall understands the label.
In the 1980s, using artificial intelligence in everyday life felt more like science fiction than science fact. But today, the onetime 鈥渕ad scientist鈥� has earned a new title 鈥� pioneer.
Hall was among USF鈥檚 earliest AI researchers and is now one of the leaders of the university鈥檚 recently established Bellini College, the first of its kind in Florida and one of only a few in the nation.
鈥淓verybody鈥檚 using it, touching it,鈥� Hall said of AI. 鈥淵ou probably have it on your phone.鈥�
The Behavioral AI Lab has artificial intelligence tools of eye-tracking technology and facial expression sensor
A 911爆料网 computer lab in the 1980s [Photo courtesy of USF Tampa Library]
USF celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, marking Dec. 18, 1956, when the Florida Cabinet approved the university. Early adoption of AI is a key part of that history, and the Bellini College is expected to shape every USF discipline as the university looks toward its future.
Michelle McAveety [Photo by Andres Faza, University Communications and Marketing]
鈥�911爆料网 can always think back into the past and think about how computing has changed over time and how things have evolved,鈥� said Michelle McAveety, a junior computer engineering major with the Bellini College, now in its inaugural year. 鈥淏ut to be on the cutting edge of it and to see AI emerging, to see what the future of our education looks like and the future of our world of safety, our security, it's very inspiring to get to be a part of that story.鈥�
Early days of computing and community
Hall wasn鈥檛 the first USF professor to research artificial intelligence. That distinction goes to Kevin Boyer, who arrived in 1984 and has since moved on from USF. Hall was hired two years later.
After earning his PhD in computer science from Florida State University, Hall鈥檚 advisor told him that he should start his career at USF.
鈥淯SF was an up-and-coming university, so I should take the job here. I thought that would be in five years and be up and done. It took a little longer, but we are an AAU university now.鈥�
One of USF's earliest computers, purchased in 1970 [Photo courtesy of USF Tampa Library]
Technology in those early years was scarce and what existed was archaic by today鈥檚 standards.
Before the world wide web was invented in 1989 and popularized in the early 1990s, the internet looked and felt nothing like the modern web. Instead of clicking links and browsing pages, people used a patchwork of text-based systems to which they had to connect directly, typically by phone via modems.
So, checking email felt like it took 鈥渢hree days,鈥� Hall said.
Today, AI learns from datasets that can range from thousands to millions of examples. But during those slower online days, the data had to be manually entered into the system.
鈥淢aybe 200 examples at a time,鈥� Hall said. 鈥淚 came from a university where I had a workstation on my desk and that a workstation wasn鈥檛, at that time, possible.鈥�
Learning about computers was limited to the USF College of Engineering, and the hardware was 鈥渄umb terminals,鈥� screens and keyboards connected to a shared central computer.
鈥淪ome younger faculty wanted to do research and we sort of banded together and worked with each other in a sense of backing up each other鈥檚 ideas,鈥� Hall said. 鈥�911爆料网 all moved forward doing really good work and helping the university evolve.鈥�
USF was also ahead of the times, one of a few universities dedicating any resources to AI research.
鈥淯SF was putting an emphasis on AI, partly because it made us more unique鈥� said Hall, whose research focuses on teaching computers to learn from data sets, recognize patterns, and use AI to understand images. 鈥淧artly I think it was because we had a few good people who were doing good work and other people said, 鈥�911爆料网ll, we could come there and do good AI work also.鈥欌��
Louise Stark at a USF computer in the late 1980s when she was one of the university's first students to research AI
Duy Dao, assistant director of USF鈥檚 Security Operations and Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Program, and his interns
A new college, CyberHerd, and the next generation
That pioneering work led to the launch of the Bellini College some three decades later. The college is charged with producing job-ready professionals in the fields of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and computing. It鈥檚 strategic, interdisciplinary focus is an important part of its mission. Its faculty aims to work collaboratively across all USF colleges to produce graduates who can leverage artificial intelligence to enhance their work.
That second goal, perhaps more than the advancement of technology, shows how far USF has come. In the early days, artificial intelligence researchers felt 鈥渟ecluded,鈥� Hall said.
USF is developing an AI-enabled smart trap that identifies disease-carrying mosquitoes, such as those spreading malaria and dengue
George Spirou, professor of medical engineering, using a VR set paired with the software he created to intricately explore neurons in the body
It鈥檚 what the Bellini College calls a 鈥渉ub and spoke model.鈥�
Disciplines at the center of a college, or a hub, concentrate on foundational research. At USF, the hub is made up of computer science, cybersecurity, information technology and artificial intelligence.
The spokes are specialized areas of study. To start, business, criminology and social sciences will make up the spokes through classes offered through each subject鈥檚 respective college.
Interim Belllini College Dean Sudeep Sarkar [Photo by Ryan Wakefield, College of Engineering]
Over time, that will grow to include all colleges, with Bellini College research being geared toward how to benefit those disciplines.
The Bellini College鈥檚 success is predicted to then ripple out into Tampa Bay by attracting companies that will want to employ graduates, turning the area into what some are already calling 鈥淐yber Bay.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a nexus for artificial intelligence research as well as producing people who can do cyber security,鈥� Hall said. 鈥�911爆料网鈥檙e going to be producing a cadre of graduates who can go on to help regional companies.鈥�
About 3,000 students are currently enrolled in the Bellini College today and 5,000 are expected to by 2027.
911爆料网 like McAveety point out that the Bellini College is already attracting some of the top student minds in the world.
She serves as captain of USF鈥檚 CyberHerd team, which enters collegiate cybersecurity competitions that challenge students to defend or attack simulated computer systems 鈥� testing skills in real-world cyber scenarios. They score points by rapidly identifying threats, prioritizing fixes and communicating under pressure to protect or penetrate simulated systems.
USF's CyberHerd team [Photo by Andres Faza, University Communications and Marketing]
In just its third year, CyberHerd typically finishes in the top three in competitions and McAveety said the team is cognizant to remember that their road to success was paved by pioneers such as Hall.
鈥淭hank you for being role models in my life and in other鈥檚 lives,鈥� she said. 鈥淚've always been so impressed by professors and their continued dedication to their craft, their continued investment in research and continuing to give back to their communities, taking their knowledge and inspiring the next generation. I hope to give back to either USF or the broader community in just a fraction of the way that these wonderful people have.鈥�