The University of Southern California announced a $200 million donation from venture capitalist Mark Stevens and his wife Mary to integrate artificial intelligence across all academic disciplines. The gift from the longtime Nvidia board member and USC alumnus will fund computing infrastructure and hire faculty who will infuse AI into healthcare, cybersecurity and the arts.

The donation reflects a growing trend among universities racing to incorporate AI as the technology reshapes higher education. USC President Beong-Soo Kim said the university recognizes it cannot compete with private sector computing resources, so the focus will be on practical applications where universities can add distinctive value. Stevens said he hopes to see tangible outcomes within three years, calling research universities "the golden jewels of America."

The gift ranks among the largest university donations tied to AI. The University of Texas at Austin recently received $750 million from Michael and Susan Dell for an AI-native hospital initiative, while the University of Wisconsin secured $100 million for a new College of Computing and Artificial Intelligence. USC will rename its computing school after Stevens and launch a bachelor's degree in AI later this year.