Master's in Artificial Intelligence Programs in California

Are you interested in a California-based Master’s in Artificial Intelligence program? You’ve come to the right place! We found over 30 graduate degree programs in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and related fields. Compare Master’s in AI programs from schools like UCLA, USC, and Stanford. We also included Ph.D. and graduate certificate programs from San Francisco State and San Diego State, among other schools. Use the list below to find a California Master’s in Artificial Intelligence program that meets your needs!

Artificial Intelligence Education in California

California is not only one of the leading states for advancements artificial intelligence (AI) and related technologies — it’s also a top choice for artificial intelligence education. There are many different programs offered throughout the state, and you can study nearly any specialization. Whether you want to specialize in autonomous vehicles, Edge AI, computer vision, deep reinforcement learning, machine learning, or one of the other subfields of AI, there is a program for you.

California offers some of the best universities and master’s programs in the entire country. Colleges like Stanford University and University of California-Berkely are producing the next generation of students set to take on an AI-driven world.

Stanford University, which has established itself as one of the world’s leading teaching institutions, is equipped with the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (SAIL). SAIL was one of the first institutions to begin studying and researching AI in 1962. It offers courses, manages outreach to schools, and hosts AI-related events. The university offers a Graduate Certificate in Artificial Intelligence from the School of Engineering. It requires the course Artificial Intelligence: Principles and Techniques and electives like Decision Making Under Uncertainty and Introduction to Robotics.

The University of California-Berkeley is the oldest higher education institute in the state, and it offers many different facilities aimed at AI. The Berkeley Artificial Intelligence Research Laboratory has over two dozen faculty members and more than a hundred graduate students. Besides its intensive research, the lab offers courses like Computational Imaging and Robotic Manipulation.

Besides offering degrees, these universities and labs are also responsible for many of the developments and much of the latest research coming out of the field. For example, Stanford’s Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence releases a yearly AI index. The index is an independent program developed by an interdisciplinary team of individuals in academia, industry, and governments. It comprehensively tracks AI’s impact and progress each year by analyzing patterns on everything from job growth to national economies and diversity.

Many significant investments are made in the state, especially in academic institutions. In July 2021, the National Science Foundation announced a $20 million grant for the University of California San Diego to develop a new institute focused on AI and optimization called the Institute for Learning-enabled Optimization at Scale (TILOS).

Online Master’s in Artificial Intelligence Programs in California

Given its large size and importance to the AI industry, it’s no surprise California offers more online artificial intelligence degree programs than most states. You’ll find eight online graduate certificates in subjects like applied artificial intelligence and deep learning and three online master’s degrees in AI and machine learning.

Stanford University has two main sets of classes if you’re looking to study AI online. The first is their AI Graduate Education program, which provides the foundation and skills in the principles and technologies crucial to AI, such as logic, probabilistic models, and machine learning. Students can earn the certificate through the completion of four 10-week courses. The second program is the Professional Education program, which provides a rigorous introduction to machine learning. It also explores theoretical and project-based learning in natural language processing (NLP) and understanding. Students can earn the certificate by completing three 10-week courses.

Notable online AI master’s programs within the state include the Master of Science in Statistics (Machine Learning track) at San Jose State University, the Master of Science in Applied Artificial Intelligence at the University of San Diego, and the MSc in Computer Science at San Diego State University. It’s safe to assume it won’t be long before more CA universities launch AI degrees available online.

The Artificial Intelligence Landscape in California

Outside of academia, the artificial intelligence landscape is massive in California. AI technology is drastically changing the structure of goods and services in the state’s economy.

According to a McKinsey report, AI will increase the global gross economic product by $13 trillion by 2030, and this means the economic effect on California will be over $400 billion. Current studies also suggest that AI could affect anywhere between 1 million to 11 million jobs in the state. California is also home to many of the world’s most well-funded startups, such as Databricks, which has nearly $1.9 billion in total disclosed equity funding.

Recent years have seen a call for action in the state. Back in 2018, the Little Hoover Commission released its “Artificial Intelligence: A Roadmap for California report.” In the report, the Commission calls on the California government to adopt an AI agenda that revolves around public engagement, building on human infrastructure, protecting core values, and various other recommendations for the state. Initiatives like these have increased over the past few years as advancements in AI make a greater impact on the state.