University of Toronto establishes new AI research chair backed by Google funding
The University of Toronto has launched a new endowed AI research chair honoring Geoffrey Hinton, supported by a combined $20 million investment from Google and the university as competition for global AI talent intensifies.
Geoffrey Hinton at U of T’s St. George campus. Photo credit: Nick Iwanyshyn
University of Toronto has established a new Hinton Chair in Artificial Intelligence following a $10 million contribution from Google, matched by an additional $10 million from the university. The move strengthens Toronto’s position in global AI research and reflects growing investment by universities and industry partners in long-term, foundational AI talent.
New chair honors Geoffrey Hinton’s research legacy
The Hinton Chair in Artificial Intelligence is named in recognition of Geoffrey Hinton, University Professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto and a Nobel laureate whose work underpins modern artificial intelligence. The endowed role is designed to support the recruitment and retention of an internationally recognized AI researcher focused on fundamental, exploratory work.
Melanie A. Woodin, president at the University of Toronto, says, “On behalf of the university, I would like to express our deepest gratitude to Google for this wonderful investment. This new chair will enable us to build on Geoff Hinton’s historic contributions in artificial intelligence and to advance our record of transformational research in fields of crucial importance to the world.”
The chair is the first appointment under the university’s newly launched Third-Century Chairs program, a long-term strategy aimed at attracting senior research leaders as global competition for AI expertise continues to increase.
Industry partnership and long-term funding model
Google’s funding brings the total endowment for the chair to $20 million, placing it among the most highly supported research roles at the university. The funding provides long-term support for research activity alongside additional resources to enable new lines of inquiry.
Jeff Dean, chief scientist at Google DeepMind and Google Research, says, “Google is proud to partner with the University of Toronto in establishing this endowed chair, recognizing the extraordinary impact of Geoff Hinton, whose Nobel Prize-winning work laid the foundation for modern artificial intelligence. On a personal level, it was a delight to have Geoff as a colleague for more than a decade. This chair will empower world-class academic scholars to accelerate breakthrough innovations and drive responsible research that shapes a future where AI serves a common good.”
Hinton joined the University of Toronto in 1987 and later spent a decade at Google, splitting his time between the company and the university. His research on artificial neural networks, including work on backpropagation and deep learning, laid the groundwork for widespread adoption of AI across industry and academia.
Reflecting on the new chair, Hinton says, “I am grateful for having been able to pursue my research at the University of Toronto, which afforded me the time and resources to develop the ideas that would eventually grow into the success of neural nets. I am encouraged that the Hinton Chair in Artificial Intelligence will support the next generation of AI research in the same vein, allowing ideas of great promise to germinate for the benefit of all humanity.”
Talent, policy, and national AI priorities
The Hinton Chair will be based in the university’s department of computer science and is expected to contribute to teaching, student training, and research collaboration across disciplines. University leaders say the role aligns with national priorities to strengthen Canada’s research capacity, following a recent federal commitment of $1.7 billion to attract top global research talent.
Stephen Wright, interim dean of the Faculty of Arts & Science, says, “It’s thrilling to consider the astonishing possibilities of welcoming a globally leading AI researcher into this setting. At the department of computer science, the chair-holder will be surrounded by a remarkable concentration of scientific knowledge and creative skills, and a deep, proven track record of research excellence.”
The University of Toronto is home to several AI-focused research initiatives and maintains close links with the Vector Institute, which Hinton co-founded. The university has also contributed to the development of AI startups across healthcare, transportation, and life sciences, reinforcing its role as a central hub in Canada’s AI ecosystem.
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