USF to launch college focused on AI, cybersecurity this fall

• The donation from Arnie and Lauren Bellini is also the largest in USF's history.

Zoom in: The Bellini College will pair AI and cybersecurity in a "first-of-its-kind" approach, the university says.

• It will offer undergraduate and graduate degree programs that integrate both fields, conduct research on cybersecurity solutions and emphasize the responsible and ethical use of AI.

Between the lines: The U.S. lost $12 billion to cybercrime in 2023 alone. Meanwhile, there are 700,000 vacant cybersecurity positions due to a "massive" workforce shortage, per USF.

• USF plans to tackle both challenges with the opening of Bellini College in fall 2025 — expanding access to AI and training thousands of professionals.

What they're saying: "By integrating AI and cybersecurity in one college, USF is creating a national model for preparing leaders in this rapidly evolving field," USF Provost Prasant Mohapatra said in a press release.