The University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy has announced the launch of the Bike Shop @UChicago, a new initiative dedicated to advancing the emerging field of algorithmic public policy. The effort is supported by a $20 million gift from University of Chicago Trustee Thomas Francis Dunn and Susan Knapp Dunn.
The new lab aims to develop and scale algorithms designed to enhance human decision-making in public systems. Rather than replacing human judgment, the initiative focuses on building tools that extend human capabilities—what its founders describe as “bicycles for the mind” in public policy.
Led by Jens Ludwig, the Edwin A. and Betty L. Bergman Distinguished Service Professor at the Harris School and Director of the University of Chicago Crime Lab, the Bike Shop will serve as a hub for research, training, and real-world implementation at the intersection of artificial intelligence, data science, behavioral science, and public policy. The initiative will collaborate closely with a parallel effort at MIT led by Professor Sendhil Mullainathan.
The program has two core objectives. First, it will conduct foundational research to shape the development of AI tools for policy applications. Second, it will translate those advances into scalable interventions that governments can adopt to improve decision-making, resource allocation, and service delivery.
Initial projects will explore applications in areas such as public safety, education, municipal finance, and climate adaptation. The initiative will also support student research assistantships, internships, new courses, and summer institutes to train the next generation of scholars working at the intersection of AI and public policy.
University leaders say the Bike Shop reflects a growing recognition that advances in artificial intelligence can help governments deliver more effective and equitable outcomes—if those technologies are designed with public systems in mind.
Why this matters
The launch of the Bike Shop signals a major institutional investment in algorithmic public policy, a field that combines human judgment with machine learning to improve complex decisions. With significant philanthropic backing and collaboration across leading institutions, the initiative is likely to shape both research agendas and career pathways at the intersection of AI, economics, and public policy.
The Economic Misfit will continue to follow developments in this emerging field and share related opportunities, research, and commentary with our community.
For More Information, read the official university announcement: https://news.uchicago.edu/story/20-million-gift-launches-lab-harris-school-advance-field-algorithmic-public-policy
