The Digital Intelligence & Innovation (DI2) Accelerator serves as a hub for digital and applied AI methods, fostering collaboration, accelerating innovation, and elevating WashU’s national visibility. Through DI2, WashU is building a lasting ecosystem for digital distinction.
Marquee accomplishments through 2025
Launched a new digital future
A cross-campus digital research hub, the DI2 Accelerator expands and supports work in the digital domain to grow research excellence, enhance and strengthen educational experiences for our students, and enable operational excellence.
Transformed ideas into impact
Digital Solutions Studio launch
In 2024, the DI2 Accelerator expanded its support for digital research by launching the Digital Solutions Studio (DSS) — a collaborative studio designed to help WashU faculty turn data-driven ideas into functional digital products. DSS was created in response to the increasing demand for technical expertise in data engineering, software development, and digital research infrastructure.
Having someone help with the design, the project management, etc., in such a bold and competent way—it was really like being strapped into a rocket. That’s how much it advanced our project.
Andrew Reeves, PhD, professor of political science
Building a digital community
The DSS generated interdisciplinary digital research products that exemplify the studio’s ability to accelerate scholarly impact.
St. Louis data dashboard
Developed in collaboration with the St. Louis Policy Initiative, the St. Louis dashboard lowers barriers to regional research by centralizing diverse datasets — empowering both scholars and the public to examine health, environmental, political, and economic conditions across the St. Louis region.
Moving Stories app
The Moving Stories app collects and analyzes immigration narratives. It is being enhanced and stabilized in preparation for future funding opportunities.
GynSight
Currently in beta testing, GynSight is part of a $3.4 million ARPA-H grant and integrates diverse data sources to support more personalized, less invasive diagnosis of endometriosis.
Accelerated high impact research through AI solutions
A core goal of the DSS is to bring WashU research to life through customized digital tools that help faculty members scale their ideas, generate insights, and engage broader audiences. These interdisciplinary digital research products exemplify the studio’s ability to accelerate scholarly impact.
WashU ChatGPT
WashU’s secure ChatGPT launched in December 2023 in partnership with WashU IT.
2024 stats
8,806
unique users
490K
chats
4,674
documents uploaded
49
approved requests for API use
GatewayAI
WashU’s GatewayAI is an accessible AI tool for building custom chatbots grounded in research data or curated information sources — no coding required. Currently in development, it is being piloted to improve access to government services and has broad potential to support education, patient care, and research.
Secure API access to OpenAI endpoints
In September 2024, the DI2 Accelerator launched secure API access to OpenAI endpoints in partnership with WashU IT.
Digital Transformation Summer Corps
The Digital Transformation Summer Corps mobilized 17 student developers who applied the latest AI-enabled coding tools to accelerate eight faculty-led research projects spanning six schools.