Dr. Bill Swartout

Professor

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Biography

William Swartout has been involved in the research and development of artificial intelligence systems for over 30 years. He is the director of technology at the USC Institute for Creative Technologies and a research professor in the Computer Science Department at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. His research interests focus on virtual humans, text generation, knowledge acquisition, knowledge representation, and the intelligent design of computer-based educational systems. At ICT, Swartout provides overall direction for the institute's research programs and has been a Principal Investigator on notable projects such as New Dimensions Testimony, which collaborates with the Shoah Foundation to preserve Holocaust survivor testimonies in an interactive format. He also leads the Personal Assistant Lifelong Learning project, which aims to create virtual human mentors to assist sailors during their training transitions. He has received multiple awards for his innovative work in agent technology, including the Robert Engelmore Award from the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence. Swartout is an AAAI Fellow and has served on various advisory boards, including the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board. He holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Computer Science from MIT and a Bachelor's degree in Mathematical Sciences from Stanford University.

Research Interests

Experience

Research Professor

— Present

University of Southern California, Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science • Los Angeles, CA

Leading research and directing technology at USC Institute for Creative Technologies, focusing on AI and virtual human technology.

Awards

#

Robert Engelmore Memorial Lecture Award

#

NSF Virtual Museum Guides

Requirements for University of Southern California

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
TOEFL
Listening
Required:20
Reading
Required:20
Writing
Required:20
Speaking
Required:20
Total
Required:90
IELTS
Listening
Required:6
Reading
Required:6
Writing
Required:6
Speaking
Required:6
Overall
Required:6.5
GRE General
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Math, or Hard Science
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Official transcripts
  • Personal Statement
  • Resume/CV
  • Letters of Recommendation (not required for MS CS, but allowed)
Specialization Notes

GRE is NOT required for Master's applicants for 2025-2026.