Master's in Artificial Intelligence Programs in Colorado

Colorado’s so-called “Silicon Mountain” comprises two of the nation’s “top 10 most resilient tech hubs” — Colorado Springs and Denver. Many of the big boys of tech are established there, including Amazon, Facebook, Google, and Palantir. And if you’re interested in earning your Master’s in Artificial Intelligence, consider Colorado as one of the best states. When it comes to AI and machine learning instruction, few places can contend with its state-of-the-art facilities and extensive education opportunities.

For years, Colorado has been a leader in science and technology initiatives, being awarded several federal grants and incentivizing local businesses to grow their commitment to developing cutting-edge technology.

Across Colorado, AI is doing pretty amazing things:

• Legislators moved forward with a $2 million initiative that looks to AI to prevent wildfires. A recent initiative would distribute cameras and monitors that use machine learning and AI to detect even the faintest wisp of smoke.
• In an effort to prevent discriminatory insurance practices, Colorado insurance companies may be tasked with using AI in their underwriting practices, requiring more transparency and equitable use of data.

And some things controversial:

• Concerned with privacy, Colorado is restricting the use and development of facial recognition technology for higher-ed, local, and state governing agencies.
• This piece of art won first place at the Colorado State Fair. It was generated with AI, bringing into question what should be considered art in the first place.

The Artificial Intelligence Landscape in Colorado

Colorado consistently invests in businesses and prioritizes STEM in education, starting from the ground up. The Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) offers several grants for projects in advanced industries.

For example, the Advanced Industry Proof of Concept Grant provides funding for promising new technology in the early-developmental stages. The Collaborative Infrastructure Grant provides 2–1 state funding for large-scale projects. The OEDIT also offers up to 35% of investment costs in a state income tax credit, along with other various tax incentives.

In 2020, the University of Colorado Boulder invested $20 million to launch the US National Science Foundation AI Institute for Student-AI Teaming, which seeks to explore the role AI will play in the future of work and education—constituting just one of several investments that have been made to further AI education.

The University of Colorado Denver was awarded $2 million to launch a smart cities accelerator program that focuses on workforce development. This accelerator will create certificate programs for tech careers, and work toward providing equal access to underrepresented communities. The investment will also cover installing a high-end 5G lab to “support the development, testing, and deployment of smart cities prototype products and services.”

Colorado is a tech hub in its own right. Businesses in Boulder, Denver, and Fort Collins win more federal contracts than the California Bay Area. Boulder, in particular, has all the big players of Silicon Valley like Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Intel, and more. It also has a burgeoning startup scene. According to the Colorado Technology Association, tech jobs in Colorado are among the fastest growing in the state.

Artificial Intelligence Education in Colorado

There are plenty of diverse learning opportunities in Colorado.

University of Colorado Boulder is one of the world’s leaders in artificial intelligence education and research. Students get a broad and deep education in the fundamentals, including computer vision, data mining, natural language processing, speech processing, and machine learning. Students are also given opportunities to immerse themselves in interdisciplinary work and collaborate with other departments.

At CU Boulder, you can study the effects of climate change on biodiversity at the Environmental Data Science Innovation and Inclusion Lab or explore the possibilities with artificially intelligent robotics at the Collaborative AI and Robotics Lab.

You can leverage a broad range of machine learning and AI tools at the Colorado School of Mines while pursuing a Master’s in Data Science. This curriculum prepares students for a career in industry, government, or academia by teaching them how to solve complex problems with data. University of Colorado-Colorado Springs offers a modern and rigorous computer science curriculum, including machine learning, computer vision, and natural language processing.

Colorado also offers several online programs, such as CSU Global’s MS in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, where you’ll learn how to leverage deep learning libraries and develop proficiency in various languages. Colorado State University–Fort Collins also offers an online MS in Computer Science, taught by an award-winning faculty.

Learning opportunities are only growing in Colorado. In fact, in 2024 CU Boulder is launching a brand new master’s program in Artificial Intelligence & Communication Engineering, focused on the domains of signal processing and communication. The program will incorporate an industrial advisory board tasked with recommending coursework and learning projects to properly prepare students for the field.

Use the program listings below to browse all AI master’s degrees offered at Colorado universities.