New frontier

NMSU is fast-tracking its artificial intelligence efforts by expanding development of AI programs in several directions through collaborations with all NMSU colleges and NMSU’s system of community colleges.

In spring 2025, strongly supported by $500,000 from NMSU President Valerio Ferme’s office and $2 million from the State of New Mexico, the university launched the Institute for Applied Practice in AI and Machine Learning.

“The mission of the AI Institute is to bring together AI researchers, educators and practitioners at NMSU and lead the region and the state in the application of AI models and technologies to practical solutions that address real-world challenges relevant to New Mexico,” says Enrico Pontelli, head of the institute and College of Arts and Sciences dean.

All NMSU colleges are involved in the effort. In fall 2026, NMSU will launch the state’s first bachelor’s degree in AI. The university also is spearheading the creation of an innovative master’s degree in applied artificial intelligence.

“This is timely and sorely needed,” Ferme says. “With our labs, with the technology we have in the state, this is a wonderful opportunity for our students. But even beyond, many good things will come out of AI if we use it responsibly and I’m very pleased that our students will be able to participate in this new field.”

The institute is inspiring the university’s AI efforts through action. So far, the AI institute has assembled a team developing general education courses to introduce AI for all; launched an internal grants program for new research collaborations across the university; participated in a proposal for a national research collaboration network, led by Howard University, focused on the impact of AI on the workforce; co-led a panel at the Computing Research Association Summit titled “Building Capacity for AI Education in Undergraduate Programs” in late July 2025; and in late August 2025, organized a meeting with representatives of U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich’s office to discuss pathways to integrate AI into higher education.

The institute also is co-leading, with the Computing Research Association, a national meeting in January 2026 focused on addressing the challenges of promoting effective AI education for all students across all academic institutions.

NMSU’s College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences has been successful in helping ranchers use virtual fencing to monitor and control cattle in large areas after recent fires destroyed many of the physical fences. There are already AI specialized courses offered by different departments, such as those in NMSU’s Department of Accounting, that explore the use of AI within specific discipline, and the institute is investigating how to grow these opportunities into a specialized applied AI master’s degree.

“AI is already having a profound impact on the workforce and on the market,” Pontelli says. “The U.S. AI market has grown tenfold in just the last five years. It is expected to exceed 250 billion by 2027. Our degree programs will allow us to develop students capable of mastering AI knowledge, meaning not only the foundations of AI and understanding how AI can be used to solve problems in a variety of domains, but also the ethical use of AI and its impacts on individuals and society.”