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Billionaire Michael Dell and his wife, Susan Dell, have become the first donors to donate more than one billion dollars to the University of Texas at Austin, funding a new medical research campus and hospital program powered by artificial intelligence.
The couple's latest investments include a $750 million gift to help build the UT Dell Medical Center, a planned “AI-native” hospital expected to open in 2030 as part of a 300-acre advanced research facility.
University officials said the project will integrate research, clinical care and advanced computing to improve early disease detection, personalize treatment and expand access to care in the rapidly growing Austin region.
The Dells' support builds on decades of contributions to UT, including funding for its medical school, scholarships and research programs.
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Michael Dell and Susan Dell attended the Breakthrough Prize ceremony as the couple became the first to donate more than $1 billion to the University of Texas at Austin. (Photo by Craig T Fruchtman/WireImage)
“By bringing together medicine, science and computing in one space designed for the AI era, UT can create another opportunity, deliver better outcomes, and build a stronger future for communities across Texas and beyond,” said Michael Dell and Susan Dell.
The gift ranks among the largest in the history of higher education, along with large donations such as Phil Knight's $2 billion pledge to Oregon Health & Science University and Michael Bloomberg's $1.8 billion donation to Johns Hopkins University.
The new UT Dell Medical Center will be developed in partnership with the MD Anderson Cancer Center, integrating cancer care into a system designed to connect prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
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An aerial view shows the University of Texas at Austin campus at sunset. (Stock)
“We will deliver better outcomes for patients by providing research-driven cancer care that is precise, compassionate and full of hope,” said Peter WT Pisters, president of UT MD Anderson.
Officials said the facility will be built from the ground up to include AI, rather than retrofitting old infrastructure — an approach they say could revolutionize the way hospitals operate.
Independent experts have warned that AI in healthcare could bring risks if not carefully validated. A widely cited study published in a journal Science by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Chicago found that a commonly used healthcare algorithm underestimates the needs of Black patients due to biased training data, highlighting broader concerns about equity in AI-driven systems.
The project also includes funding for undergraduate scholarships, student housing and the Texas Advanced Computing Center, where officials are building one of the largest academic supercomputers in the nation.
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Artificial intelligence technology is expected to play an important role in diagnosis and patient care at UT Dell's planned medical center. (Stock)
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said the investment will help position the state as a national leader in health care innovation.
“Texas is already a leader in technology, energy and business, and now we will further strengthen our leadership in health innovation,” Abbott said.
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The university said it plans to spin off the medical center later this year and launch a comprehensive campaign to raise $10 billion over the next decade.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
