The Hastings Initiative for AI and Humanity, a $50 million initiative funded by Bowdoin alumnus and Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings, emerged with an ambitious mission: “exploring, understanding and ethically guiding the transformative power of artificial intelligence.” The initiative’s priorities include hiring ten new faculty members across academic disciplines, funding faculty research and supporting teaching and artistic projects involving artificial intelligence (AI). In recent months, funding has also become more available to students, expanding opportunities for them to engage directly with the developing technologies. The Hastings Initiative is particularly relevant within Bowdoin’s growing research culture, with more than 200 students conducting faculty-mentored research annually. In 2025, the College was officially recognized as a Research College and University (RCU)—a notable distinction for a liberal arts college.