Bowdoin College is getting a $50 million donation from alumnus and Netflix cofounder Reed Hastings to launch a program on artificial intelligence.

The donation is meant to deepen the College’s engagement with what Hastings calls one of humanity’s most transformative developments in AI

A statement from the college says it’s the largest donation in the school’s 231-year history, which will let faculty explore the challenges and opportunities of the AI revolution.

Hastings graduated from Bowdoin College in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics and then earned a master of science degree in artificial intelligence at Stanford University.

Hastings co-founded Netflix in 1997 and served as the company’s CEO for 25 years before becoming executive chairman in 2023.

He said the school’s AI “initiative will empower students and faculty to critically examine, thoughtfully utilize, and ethically shape AI’s trajectory.”

Bowdoin College President Safa Zaki said the school is uniquely positioned to “meet the challenges and opportunities of AI.”

“Our deep commitment to the liberal arts and the common good position us to think together about what we are going to value in human cognition, and what we will want our AI systems to do—or not do—going forward in service to humanity,” said Zaki.

The statement from the school outlined three initial priorities for its AI Program:

• hiring ten new faculty members in a range of disciplines;
• supporting current faculty who want to incorporate and interrogate AI in their teaching, research, and artistic work;
• and leading conversations about the uses of AI and the changes and challenges it will bring, including workshops, symposia, and support for student research.