AI4Impact News

Massachusetts leans into artificial intelligence

AI for Impact projects MBTA and MassHealth highlighted for improving state grant access, working with Massachusetts Department of Transportation highway design engineers, and creating a…

AI assistant built by Northeastern grad helps MassDOT engineers work faster

Northeastern Global News highlights Sai Panindra Santosh Kumar Majji’s generative artificial intelligence assistant, HEKA.

Artificial intelligence: Saving you money, and helping MassDOT build faster

Highlighting the HEKA tool, built by Northeastern co-op students in the Burnes Center’s AI for Impact program.

The Burnes Center’s Impact Insider

In the latest Burnes Center quarterly report, learn about our literacy initiative, AI for Impact, InnovateUS, and more.

2025 BostonCIO ORBIE Awards Finalists

Santi Garces, AI for Impact Technical Lead and Burnes Center Senior Fellow, was a Large Enterprise finalist at the 2025 BostonCIO ORBIE Awards. As CIO…

Meet the 2025 Khoury College award winners

Shreya Thalvayapati, a data science and economics student, earned the Undergraduate Co-op Award for her impactful work at the intersection of technology and social change.…

Designing AI With Communities: the AIEP Project

The Burnes Center’s Sofia Bosch Gomez explains AIEP, an AI-powered tool created through AI for Impact designed to empower families to better understand and engage…

Leading with Purpose: Social Change in the AI Age: Delivered at the Kean University Honors Convocation

Beth Simone Noveck’s 2025 honor sconvocation address at Kean University challenges graduates to become public entrepreneurs in the AI age—using technology not for profit alone,…

Santiago Garces Named a 2025 Top 25 Doer, Dreamer & Driver

The Burnes Center’s AI for Impact Technical Lead, Senior Fellow, and Lecturer at Northeastern’s Khoury College of Computer Sciences Santiago “Santi” Garces has been named…

How AI is changing esports: Northeastern students win big at Valorant challenge 

AI for Impact co-op students Dhruv Kamalesh Kumar and Rudra Sett won second place in AWS’ Valorant Champions Tour Hackathon Esports Manager Challenge.

AI sandbox generates new solutions, talent pipeline in Massachusetts

MA Secretary of Technology and Security Services Jason Snyder discusses the success of the AI for Impact Program and the Sandbox project.

Northeastern at the forefront of Massachusetts’ AI-driven economic growth, governor says in announcing AI Hub

The AI for Impact co-ops at Northeastern are revolutionizing Massachusetts’ future. Students have developed tools like an AI chatbot for MBTA, enhancing state services and…

Northeastern students are runners-up in global AWS hackathon

At AWS re:Invent 2024, AI for Impact co-op students Dhruv Kamalesh Kumar and Rudra Sett and their Northeastern team won second place and Best Cross-Regional…

AWS and Riot Games Announce the Winner of the VALORANT Champions Tour Hackathon: Esports Manager Challenge

At AWS re:Invent 2024, AI for Impact co-op students Dhruv Kamalesh Kumar and Rudra Sett and their Northeastern team won second place and Best Cross-Regional…

Impact Projects at Northeastern University

The AI For Impact Co-op is highlighted for effectively preparing students for future challenges and opportunities in the workforce.

Streamlining Public Benefits Access is a Must to Address Poverty

Burnes Center AI for Impact co-ops are highlighted for their work towards accessible healthcare benefits to the public.

Now recruiting for AI for Impact Co-ops!

Using AI to drive constituent focused outcomes

Burnes Center Senior Fellow David Fields discusses the AI for Impact Co-op program at the AWS Imagine Conference.

Healey admin’s AI blueprint for Massachusetts starts to take shape

Governor Maura Healey highlights the Burnes Center’s AI for Impact co-op program during a visit to Northeastern.

‘AI will transform every aspect of our life,’ Gov. Healey says at artificial intelligence task force meeting at Northeastern

Governor Maura Healey highlights the Burnes Center’s AI for Impact co-op program during a visit to Northeastern

Northeastern University Student Projects Improve Government With AI

The AI for Impact program gives a dozen students full-time work experience applying generative AI to public-sector problems such as transportation services, health care and…

New AI tool developed by Northeastern students connects farmers with environmental grants

The Burnes Center for Social Change at Northeastern University’s AI for Impact Co-ops Diane Grant and Rachel Kahn used AI to create a tool to…

Need info about the MBTA’s paratransit service? A new chatbot developed by Northeastern students is speeding up the process

The Burnes Center for Social Change at Northeastern University’s AI for Impact Co-ops Ria Singh and Rudra Sett were featured in an article about their…

AI for Impact Co-op Students Present Final Projects to Governor Maura Healey

The Burnes Center for Social Change at Northeastern University’s AI for Impact Co-ops presented their work to the Governor of Massachusetts Maura Healey.

Governor Healey Meets with Northeastern Students Working with Administration on AI Project Under InnovateMA Partnership 

Burnes Center’s AI for Impact Co-ops presented their work to the Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey.

AI for Impact Co-ops Present Final Projects for Massachusetts State Agency Partners 

Burnes Center’s AI for Impact Co-ops went on a trip to present for their Massachusetts state agency partners at their offices.

What’s Next for AI in States? An AI Sandbox

Jason Snyder, Secretary of the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, described the AI for Impact Co-op Program at…

AI for Impact Trip to the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security

Burnes Center’s AI for Impact Co-ops went on a trip to the Executive Office of Technology Security and Services.

Governor Healey Signs Executive Order Establishing Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategic Task Force

Governor Healey announces InnovateMA, a nation leading The Burnes Center for Social Change program that partners Northeastern University AI for Impact co-op students with Massachusetts…

Harnessing AI to Improve Government Service and Customer Experience

Burnes Center Director Beth Simone Noveck testifies before the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs on using AI to strengthen government services.

How AI Could Restore Our Faith in Democracy

Burnes Center Director Beth Simone Noveck discusses using AI to identify strategies to strengthen our democracy.

Northeastern’s CivicConnect Team Builds Congressional Office Chatbot Prototype

POPVOX Foundation commends the “CivicConnect” student team from Northeastern University’s Burnes Center for Social Change on the creation of the first Congressional office chatbot prototype.