Mercyhurst students to train on Data Squared AI platform

Data Squared has signed a partnership with Mercyhurst University's Centre for Intelligence Research, Analysis and Training (CIRAT), giving student analysts access to a generative AI platform used in intelligence analysis.

Under the agreement, Data Squared's reView software will be deployed within CIRAT's infrastructure. Students in Mercyhurst's Intelligence Studies and Computer Information Science programmes will use the tools as part of their training.

CIRAT runs client-facing projects that place students on work designed to mirror professional intelligence assignments. The centre undertakes analysis for US government agencies, national security groups, law enforcement organisations and private sector businesses.

The partnership was marked at an on-campus event attended by a representative from the office of Congressman Mike Kelly, the organisations said. A photo from the event showed Mercyhurst President Dr. Kathleen Getz alongside Quinn Ritchie, Kelly's chief of staff, Sarah Wicker, Data Squared's head of marketing, and CIRAT Executive Director Brian Fuller.

Platform details

Data Squared describes reView as a transparent, explainable AI product for analysis. It uses GraphRAG, which combines retrieval of source material with knowledge-graph techniques to reason across connected data.

Data Squared says government agencies and Fortune 500 companies use the same GraphRAG approach operationally. The partnership brings those methods into a university training environment, with students using the software in coursework and applied projects.

Eric Costantini, Data Squared's chief business officer, said the partnership reflects a shift in analyst training towards greater use of AI tools alongside established methods.

"This partnership successfully bridges the gap between traditional tradecraft and the era of transparent, AI-powered insights," Costantini said. "By putting our reView platform directly into the hands of CIRAT students, we are ensuring the next generation of analysts is equipped to handle the intelligence community's most complex data challenges."

Training focus

CIRAT said the work will keep students grounded in core intelligence techniques while introducing newer workflows for analysis across multiple data sources. It said the tools can support pattern recognition, relationship mapping and multi-source analysis.

The centre has produced threat assessments using open-source intelligence from clear web sources as well as deep and dark web material. These projects often require careful handling of provenance and context, as well as judgement calls about relevance and reliability. Many intelligence education programmes are also weighing how to integrate AI tools while maintaining accountability and auditability.

Fuller said the arrangement reflects what graduates will encounter in professional roles.

"Our mission at CIRAT is to prepare students for the realities of professional intelligence work," Fuller said. "Data2's reView platform provides our students with hands-on experience using the same transparent AI technology they'll encounter in government and commercial intelligence roles. This partnership ensures our graduates enter the workforce already familiar with cutting-edge analysis tools."

Programmes that train analysts have increased their focus on AI in recent years, driven by interest in faster triage of large datasets and query-driven exploration of documents. At the same time, concerns persist about generative AI producing incorrect information or presenting uncertain material as fact. Organisations in national security and law enforcement also face additional constraints around explainability, chain of evidence and internal review.

Data Squared says its approach is designed around transparency and explainability. It describes reView as a patented platform built for environments that demand high reliability.

Political interest

Congressman Mike Kelly linked the partnership to broader workforce development and AI adoption in the US economy.

"As more Americans utilize artificial intelligence, it's important that we equip the next generation with hands-on training and the skillset to maximize its value," said Rep. Mike Kelly (PA-16). "It's exciting to see the partnership that is developing between Mercyhurst University and Data2 to help professionals harness the power of new technologies right here in Western Pennsylvania."

Data Squared describes itself as a service-disabled veteran-owned small business. It operates across federal, defence and energy sectors, and sells what it calls AI reasoning platforms for high-reliability operations.

The partnership adds to CIRAT's portfolio of relationships that combine academic training with external client work. The centre said it includes multiple programme focus areas and production labs, with student analysts working across strategic intelligence, competitive business intelligence and operational support assignments.

Costantini said the company expects the university deployment to become part of how new analysts learn tools used in modern intelligence operations.