Walton Professor Featured for Research on AI Development and Public Supercomputing

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Professor Nur Ahmed’s view on the pivotal role that public supercomputers play in advancing research into artificial intelligence highlights a significant disparity between the capabilities of academic institutions and those of private companies.

Ahmed, a strategy professor within the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas, was recently featured in two articles published by Nature, discussing the critical role of supercomputers in public research and the impact of private sector AI development. 

In 2021, a staggering 96% of the largest AI models originated from industry, with these models being nearly 30 times larger than their academic counterparts on average.

Ahmed shares with Nature, “The only way people in academia can train similar-sized models is if they have access to resources like [the supercomputer] Frontier.”

His insights underscore a pressing need for increased academic access to high-performance computing resources to enable independent research that can address critical issues surrounding AI technologies.

Trajectory of AI Research 

In another article, Ahmed examines how industry funding eclipses academic investment in AI research. He points out that while companies have access to vast computing power and data sets, this often leads to a focus on profit-driven outcomes rather than addressing essential societal needs.  

His unpublished study reveals that industry tends to overlook concerns related to marginalized populations, particularly in the Global South. Ahmed warns that this trend could result in a neglect of basic research and ethical considerations.  

“While for-profit entities excel at commercializing ideas that benefit the public, they are often less inclined to prioritize the safety aspects of innovation,” he explains. “To foster more research and development focused on safety, we may need alternative stakeholders and incentives. Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a case study, I argue this point.” Ahmed advocates for a balanced approach to AI research—one that integrates both academic rigor and industry innovation. He emphasizes the need for industry involvement while also highlighting that academia must retain its capability to scrutinize AI developments critically and independently.

Advancing science for society 

Jason Ridge, chair of the Department of Management in Walton College, commended Ahmed’s work: “Nur’s work focusing on responsible AI research and an emphasis on academic research, as opposed to applied research for commercial use, could help shape the future of corporate accountability, ensuring technology advances ethically while safeguarding society from unintended consequences.” 

Ahmed’s features in Nature  not only underscore his contributions to the field but also reflect the U of A's commitment to leading research not only in the country but globally and the vital role public resources play in advancing scientific knowledge for societal benefit. 

About the Sam M. Walton College of Business: Founded in 1926, the Sam M. Walton College of Business stands as one of the largest colleges at the University of Arkansas, serving over 9,800 students across undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs. The college holds AACSB accreditation and consistently ranks among the top business schools in the United States. Walton College ranks 25th for its undergraduate business program among public colleges in the U.S. News & World Report's 2025 national rankings. Its undergraduate supply chain management program is recognized as the top program in North America by Gartner. In 2023, The Princeton Review included Walton’s M.B.A. program in its Best Business Schools list for On-Campus M.B.A. Programs.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $3 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.