Neuroscientist Gaya Dowling to Lead 100-Year AI Impact Study

Dowling arrives at the Arlington-based organization following her tenure at the National Institutes of Health, where she directed the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study. Since 2015, she managed the $500 million NIH-funded project, monitoring nearly 12,000 students to capture the nuances of biological and behavioral maturation. Her appointment signals a shift in focus toward the long-term societal implications of emerging technology.

The AI Century Study, originally announced in March, employs a mixed-methods approach to document how individuals across generations interact with artificial intelligence. Unlike intervention-based research, the project functions as an observational, longitudinal cohort study. Participants will contribute data through repeated surveys, interviews, and administrative records to help policy leaders and the public navigate the ethical integration of AI in daily life.

This project serves as a cornerstone of AIR’s AI Nexus, a broader initiative designed to provide evidence-based guidance on responsible technology use. By applying the same rigorous longitudinal methodology used in the 1960 Project Talent study, the research aims to establish a historical record of how digital intelligence influences cognitive growth, social-emotional health, and professional opportunity over the next hundred years.