The AI Index 2025, compiled by Stanford HAI at Stanford University, tallies the number of notable AI models released by institution from 2014 to 2024. Among universities, Stanford University and Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) had 25 each, Tsinghua University and the University of California, Berkeley, had 22 each, and MIT had 15.
This article takes a closer look at five universities with active AI research, using these figures as a guide.
Model counts are not the answer to choosing a university
“Which university should I choose to study AI?” It is a question that students considering their future and professionals looking to hire talent or find research partners have probably asked themselves at some point. But readily available numbers can be misleading.
The number of notable AI models used here counts how many prominent models have emerged from research institutions. It does not reflect the number of students majoring in AI or the quality of a university’s courses. Rather than a ranking, it is best viewed as a starting point for gauging the momentum of research at each university.
Stanford and CMU tied for first
Stanford University and CMU had the most notable AI models among universities, with 25 each. Over the 11 years from 2014 to 2024, both institutions released 25 notable models.
Stanford crosses disciplinary boundaries
Stanford HAI, established in 2019, is central to any discussion of Stanford. Founded with the mission of rethinking AI from a human-centered perspective, it is positioned as an interdisciplinary organization that conducts research across multiple schools.
AI is no longer a field confined to computer science. As its connections with medicine, law, economics and ethics grow, a structure that does not start out bound by school-level divisions is well suited to the times.
CMU ties with Stanford
CMU also had 25 notable AI models, matching Stanford. The tie is also evidence that the center of AI research is not concentrated at a single university.
Rather than suggesting that there is no clear winner, the tie is more accurately understood as two universities with different approaches advancing side by side.
Tsinghua and Berkeley follow with 22 each
Next are China’s Tsinghua University and the University of California, Berkeley, in the United States, with 22 models apiece. They trail Stanford and CMU by just three.
What makes this lineup interesting is that universities from both the United States and China feature near the top. The figures at the university level also show that the main arena for AI research is not confined to any one country. When looking for a place to study abroad or a research partner, it may be worth broadening your horizons across countries and regions.
At MIT, look beyond the research output
MIT had 15 notable AI models, a relatively modest figure compared with the top four universities. But a look at the breadth of its research reveals another side.
The official website of MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) lists 68 projects, 27 research groups and 111 people in the areas of AI and machine learning. Research applying machine learning to fields such as robotics, medicine and language processing is also a major focus.
Some research stands out through a single major model, while other work expands applications through numerous research groups. A measure based solely on model counts cannot fully capture the depth of the latter.
How to choose beyond the numbers
Comparing the five universities, the largest difference in model counts is 10. It may be a little too simplistic to choose a university based on that difference.
What matters to compare is the field in which you want to use AI. If you value connections with society, look for a university with an interdisciplinary organization; if you want a wide range of applications, consider an institute with numerous research groups. Using the figures as a starting point and then looking at research structures can change how a university appears.
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