Master's in Artificial Intelligence Programs in Michigan

Focused on autonomous vehicles, mobility, or the intersection of AI & advanced manufacturing? Michigan is the place to be. Our MI directory of Master’s in AI degrees is stacked with MEng and MS programs in these fields, including offerings from the state’s research powerhouse, the University of Michigan (U-M). To give you a head-start on your job hunt, this guide also covers artificial intelligence strengths & industry partnerships in Michigan universities and the AI employment landscape in Detroit & Ann Arbor.

Artificial Intelligence Schools in Michigan

When you’re examining our Michigan directory of master’s degrees & graduate certificates in artificial intelligence, you may wish to focus first on R1 schools within the Research Universities for Michigan (RU4M) academic alliance. These are: U-M, Michigan State University (MSU), Wayne State University (WSU), and Michigan Technological University (Michigan Tech). Highlights of their commitments to AI research & industrial applications can be found in RU4M’s Industry Profile: Artificial Intelligence.

• U-M: The University of Michigan is the #1 school for AI in Michigan—it’s one of the top 50 universities in the world for AI & data science research. The Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) Division supports a massive AI Lab at U-M, additional AI-affliated centers in health & bioinformatics, and all kinds of AI research projects. Once you’ve visited the AI Lab, head over to the Michigan Institute for Data & AI in Society (MIDAS) to learn more about funded projects, public-private partnerships, and MIDAS collaborations with Microsoft. Speaking of big tech, in March 2025, U-M announced a partnership with OpenAI and its NextGenAI initiative to expand resources, research funding, and computing. The university should also benefit from proximity to OpenAI and Oracle’s 1GW Data Center in Saline and its collaboration with the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) to create a state-of-the-art facility for HPC and AI research in Ypsilanti. Interested in automotive technologies? Have a look at the AI Lab’s list of industrial partners (e.g. Ford) and the long-running Toyota Research Institute (TRI)/U-M Partnership. Within Michigan Robotics, you’ll also find the Ford Motor Company Robotics Building, M-Air Net, and Mcity, a purpose-built connected and automated vehicle test facility.
• MSU: At MSU, you can customize the MSCS or engineering graduate degree with AI coursework or explore data science applications through the MSDS. We’d recommend it for autonomy & mobility work, since the College of Engineering’s research centers & institutes include Connected and Autonomous Networked Vehicles for Active Safety (CANVAS) and MSU Mobility, which hosts its own Mobility Summit. The College of Engineering also has ongoing research collaborations with Ford, GM, and Toyota. Leaning more toward the technical & theoretical side of AI? Examine Michigan State University AI Research (MAIR), housed within the Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), and its list of relevant CS and technical labs. Then pay a visit to the OPtimization and Trustworthy Machine Learning (OPTML) group and MSU’s Institute for Cyber-Enabled Research (ICER), which houses the university’s HPCC. Thinking about advanced manufacturing applications? MSU also runs a DOE-funded Industrial Testing and Assessment Center (ITAC).
• WSU: In addition to offering a smorgasbord of master’s programs in AI, robotics, industrial automation, and autonomous driving, Wayne State is an intriguing choice for anyone with a stake in health AI or urban innovation. Within the Wayne AI Group, you’ll find faculty-led research projects in edge computing, mobility, healthcare, biomedical informatics, medical imaging, and public safety. WSU also has an active partnership with Google Public Sector to build the foundations of a globally competitive supercomputing system. One the first WSU projects to take advantage of the power of Google Cloud was the Population Health Outcomes Information Exchange (PHOENIX) project, designed to identify regional health disparities. In 2025, the Wayne State University Board of Governors also approved the creation of a new Institute for AI and Data Science (AIDaS). Folks who are focused the automotive & mobility side of AI should investigate the Center for Automotive Research (CAR) and the Transportation Research Group.
• Michigan Tech: Like MSU, Michigan Tech gives students the option to customize the MSDS or MSCS with artificial intelligence work. Once you’re accepted into the College of Computing, you can take advantage of all the computing labs, including an AI/Robotics lab, Industrial Controls and Automation Lab, and Robotics and Mechatronics Lab. The College also supports research work in biocomputing and digital health, cyber-physical systems, human-centered computing, and more. In particular, pay attention to the Institute of Computing and Cybersystems (ICC) and its Center for Artificial Intelligence. Faculty within the Center are working on some fascinating projects in transportation, manufacturing, health informatics, and sustainability/climate resiliency.
• R2 Universities: You don’t have to attend one of the big 4 to get a solid AI education—R2 schools in Michigan are a viable alternative. Lawrence Tech is a good choice for robotics, thanks to its work in intelligent robotics and CAR (CS & AI Robotics) Lab, which conducts intelligent vehicle projects using deep learning & reinforcement learning. UM-Dearborn has an Institute for Advanced Vehicle Systems (IAVS) and the Dearborn Artificial Intelligence Research (DAIR) Center. And Oakland’s School of Engineering and Computer Science (SECS) has a stake in the design of smart and automated systems. In particular, SECS labs & centers such as Oakland’s Automotive Mechatronics Laboratory, Center for Robotics and Advanced Automation, Intelligent Ground Vehicle Laboratory, and Chrysler Controls and Robotics Laboratory will be of interest to anyone eyeing the Master of Science in Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering.

These are only a few highlights from Michigan’s R1 and R2 schools! It’s equally important to mention Kettering’s research facilities, including its Autonomous Driving and Artificial Intelligence (ADAI) Laboratory, work in robotics, and its GM Mobility Research Center, the only autonomous vehicle testing track on a U.S. college campus. GVSU is also beefing up its technical muscles through the Blue Dot Initiative and the GVSU College of Computing’s Applied Computing Institute (ACI), which is fostering industry-sponsored projects and work in AI & ML and bioinformatics & HPC.

Online Master’s in Artificial Intelligence Programs in Michigan

Unable to visit a campus? Our Michigan directory features plenty of online master’s degrees in artificial intelligence and robotics. In fact, around 1/2 of the graduate AI programs in Michigan are now offered in a distance learning format. You can opt for an online degree from an R1 school such as WSU or consider a technical qualification from one of the smaller universities.

• Michigan R1 Schools: U-M’s Online Master of Engineering in Global Automotive and Manufacturing Engineering (GAME) is a great pick for training in automotive production processes. WSU also offers a range of distance learning programs, including an Online Master of Computer Science with a concentration in AI or Autonomous Driving and a separate Online Master of Science in Robotics: Industrial Automation. If you opt for the MSCS, be sure to reach out to the Wayne AI Group.
• MEng in AI Programs: Folks who are seeking an MEng can investigate Kettering’s Online Master of Engineering in Artificial Intelligence. It features two mobility systems courses, two courses in automotive controls and signal processing, two management courses, and four technical courses in AI (e.g. AI for Autonomous Driving). It’s worth reiterating that Kettering is home to the Autonomous Driving and Artificial Intelligence (ADAI) Laboratory
• Customizing Your Degree: UM-Flint’s Online Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence features 8 tracks in applied AI, including concentrations in Embedded AI, Smart Manufacturing & Industry 4.0, Robotics & Human-Centered Design AI, and more. Over at UM-Dearborn, you’ll find a more technically-focused Online Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence (MS in AI) with concentrations in ML, Computer Vision, Intelligent Interaction, and Knowledge Management & Reasoning.
• Private Schools: If none of the above seem right, you can consider a technical degree from a smaller, private school. Options include Walsh College’s Online Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (MS-AIML) and Davenport’s Online Master of Science in Computer Science – Artificial Intelligence. Davenport’s College of Technology is a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE).

The Artificial Intelligence Landscape in Michigan

Michigan’s AI economy is being driven by automotive, transportation & mobility discoveries, as well as work in advanced manufacturing and engineering. According to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), Michigan has the fifth largest advanced manufacturing workforce in the USA. It’s one of the top 5 states overall for manufacturing. And it accounts for nearly one-fifth of the nation’s auto production. So you can expect to see a fair amount of AI energy being generated in these sectors.

• Statewide: In 2025, OpenAI and Oracle announced their plans to build a $7 billion, 1GW hyperscale data center campus in Saline Township as part of OpenAI’s massive Stargate Project. Thanks to the automotive industry, Michigan also has a vested interest in semiconductors—see the work of companies such as KLA, imec, Hemlock Semiconductor (HSC), and Calumet Electronics for proof. These companies are being supported by the Semiconductor Talent and Technology for Automotive Research (MSTAR), a public-private partnership that aims to develop next-generation automotive chips and create a talent pipeline through research and education. The state has also made a commitment to increasing artificial intelligence employment opportunities through the AI and the Workforce Plan.
• Detroit: Auto rules the day. The biggest AI employers in Detroit are Ford, GM, Stellantis, Bosch, and Aptiv. Waymo’s Novi office employs several dozen engineers, technicians, and test drivers. But Motor City is also quietly building a name for itself in startups. In Startup Genome’s Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2025, Detroit placed #12 in the Emerging Ecosystems Ranking, a ranking that identifies startup communities at earlier stages of growth. A lot of this activity is happening within Michigan Central, a 30-acre tech & innovation hub that’s home to Newlab Detroit (130+ startups), the Bagley Mobility Hub, and tenants such as Ford and Google Code Next. In November 2023, the nation’s first wireless-charging public roadway became fully operational within the district. The Port of Detroit is Michigan’s largest seaport, so keep an eye on maritime autonomy and logistics projects as well. Airspace Link is doing some interesting things in the realm of advanced drone transport.
• Ann Arbor: Ann Arbor was identified as Star Hub in a 2025 Brookings Metro report on Mapping the AI Economy, ranking just below Philadelphia. That’s a remarkable achievement considering its population size (~365k). And the reason for this ranking? The University of Michigan. U-M posted a record $2.04B in FY2024 research expenditures and it’s a major force behind the city’s four key industries—advanced automotive & mobility, IT, biotechnology & life sciences, and high-level R&D. AI employers in Ann Arbor include KLA (semiconductors), Applied Intuition (vehicle intelligence), SkySpecs (industrial drones), May Mobility (autonomous vehicle technologies), Duo Security/CISCO (cyber), and U-M & Michigan Medicine. In 2025, Torc Robotics (autonomous, self-driving trucks) also announced it was building an engineering center in the city. If you’re interested in KLA, check out its R&D hub in Ann Arbor, the AI and Modeling Center of Excellence.

Michigan Artificial Intelligence Resources

From automotive conferences in Detroit to SPARK events in Ann Arbor, there are plenty of opportunities to connect with tech peers & potential AI employers in the Great Lakes region. Use our curated list of Michigan AI events & conferences, AI networking groups, and AI university research centers to start making friends.

AI Events & Conferences in MI

• a2Tech360 & Tech Trek
• Ann Arbor SPARK Events
• AutoSens USA
• AutoTech
• CAR Management Briefing Seminars (MBS)
• Great Lakes Data, AI & Analytics Summit
• Michigan AI Symposium & AI Lab Events
• Michigan Tech Week
• Tech Week Grand Rapids
• Vehicle Tech Week North America

AI Meetups & Networking in MI

• Ann Arbor AI Meetups
• Ann Arbor SPARK
• Automation Alley
• Black Tech Saturdays
• Detroit AI Meetups
• Michigan Central
• TechTown Detroit
• Venture 313

AI University Research Centers in MI

• AI Lab at U-M
• Dearborn Artificial Intelligence Research (DAIR) Center
• GVSU Applied Computing Institute (ACI)
• Kettering Autonomous Driving and Artificial Intelligence (ADAI) Laboratory
• Kettering Mobility Research Center
• Mcity
• Michigan Institute for Data & AI in Society (MIDAS)
• Michigan Robotics
• Michigan State University AI Research (MAIR)
• Michigan Tech Center for AI
• Michigan Tech Institute of Computing and Cybersystems (ICC)
• MSU Connected and Autonomous Networked Vehicles for Active Safety (CANVAS)
• MSU Institute for Cyber-Enabled Research (ICER)
• MSU Mobility
• MSU OPtimization and Trustworthy Machine Learning (OPTML)
• Oakland School of Engineering and Computer Science (SECS) Labs & Centers
• Toyota Research Institute/U-M Partnership
• UM-Dearborn Institute for Advanced Vehicle Systems (IAVS)
• U-M Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI).
• Wayne AI Group