Prashant Doshi, an esteemed academic and notable researcher with over 20 years of expertise in the realm of artificial intelligence, has been appointed the first executive director of the Institute for Artificial Intelligence (IAI) at the University of Georgia after a nationwide search.

A faculty member in UGA’s School of Computing, Doshi has acted as IAI’s interim associate director for research since August 2024. In his new capacity, Doshi will aim to enhance the university’s interdisciplinary AI educational programs, research activities, and community service.

“Dr. Doshi has demonstrated himself to be an imaginative scholar, researcher, and entrepreneur in the swiftly evolving field of AI during his time at UGA, and I am confident he will serve as an outstanding leader for the Institute for Artificial Intelligence,” stated S. Jack Hu, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost.

The Institute for Artificial Intelligence is an interdepartmental research and teaching unit collaboratively supported by the Office of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost and the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. IAI provides three interdisciplinary degree programs and engages in two joint undergraduate/graduate programs. More than 80 faculty members from 12 schools and colleges at UGA are affiliated with the institute.

“As the science and application of AI progresses rapidly around us, I am thrilled by the opportunity to steer UGA’s Institute for Artificial Intelligence, one of our nation’s earliest degree-awarding AI-focused institutions,” remarked Doshi. “UGA is making substantial investments to further AI education and research, and the institute is well positioned to translate these investments into significant benefits for our students and multidisciplinary faculty.”

Doshi’s appointment as executive director aligns with UGA’s ambitious plans to establish IAI as a national frontrunner in multidisciplinary research, teaching, and broader service in AI. The university’s latest Presidential Interdisciplinary Hiring Initiative in Data Science and AI has resulted in the recruitment of nearly 70 faculty across campus. The institute will play a pivotal role in uniting both new and existing faculty members in relevant fields to advance the study and application of artificial intelligence.

“We are delighted about the selection of Dr. Doshi as executive director of IAI, as well as the multidisciplinary cooperation that leverages the strengths of Franklin’s diverse areas alongside the entire university,” expressed Anna Stenport, dean of the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. “The new applications of AI, along with their ethical considerations, hold transformative potential for our society, and it’s crucial to have a seasoned researcher, educator, and leader like Dr. Doshi to shape that dialogue and guide us into the future.”

Doshi’s research focuses on fundamental artificial intelligence and human-robot collaboration. He studies computational techniques for agent-based decision-making in environments inhabited by multiple agents. Furthermore, he investigates algorithms to provide collaborative robots, or “cobots,” with customizable autonomy through machine learning. His research has significant implications across various sectors, including cybersecurity, defense, and manufacturing.

Recently, he has developed AI-driven cobots aimed at optimizing agricultural produce processing operations. To commercialize this technology, Doshi co-founded InversAI, a firm dedicated to bringing AI-powered automation to market. Under his stewardship, the company has secured grants to support the initial use of AI-driven cobots in onion sorting and enable on-site trials of the technology in Georgia’s onion processing sectors.

His consistent excellence in research has garnered Doshi several accolades, including UGA’s 2025 Entrepreneur of the Year award. In 2024, he was elected a senior member of the Association for the Advancement of AI as a recognition of his substantial contributions in the area of multi-agent systems. These systems involve numerous agents collaborating to achieve a shared objective, utilizing coordination and communication. His research has been published extensively in journals, conferences, and other venues in the fields of agents, AI, robotics, the Semantic Web, and web services.

Doshi obtained his doctorate in computer science from the University of Illinois Chicago. He possesses a master’s degree in computer science from Drexel University and a bachelor’s from Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute.

A 10-member search advisory committee, chaired by Roberto Perdisci, Patty and D.R. Grimes Distinguished Professor of Computer Science and director of the Institute of Cybersecurity and Privacy in the School of Computing, assisted in identifying finalists for the role. The committee received support from the UGA Search Group.

The article Doshi to lead UGA’s Institute for Artificial Intelligence first appeared on UGA Today.