The NHLBI-AI Initiative was created to stimulate the development of AI methods and models for discovery research that significantly impact understanding health and the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of heart, lung, blood, and sleep (HLBS) conditions. In addition, the Initiative will develop infrastructure to support studies involving AI by the broader research community. NHLBI-AI began in FY2024 with the establishment of an AI Coordinating Center (AICC) tasked with managing the logistics of building the consortium and bringing AI experts into collaboration with subject matter experts on existing NHLBI programs, such as TOPMed and BioData Catalyst. We envision that the NHLBI-AI Initiative will be composed of the Data Science Center (DSC), a Precision Medicine Coordinating Center (PMCC), several modular precision medicine programs, and a series of independently funded AI research projects supported by these cores. The PMCC will support the transformation, harmonization, and sharing..