New York governor unveils AI research consortium to advance public good

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday announced the Empire AI consortium, a collection of seven research institutions that will share the goal of advancing artificial intelligence research projects for the public good.

The consortium will be housed at the University of Buffalo, funded by more than $400 million in state appropriations and university and private donations. According to the governor’s office, some of the topics the consortium will address include climate change, drug discovery, education, food insecurity, cybersecurity threats and health care diagnostics.

“New York is writing the next chapter of human history with our historic Empire AI initiative — putting innovation, research and technology at the forefront of our investments,” Hochul said in a press release. “Empire AI is centered in the public interest, and this step brings us closer to using this technology to shape a better future for New Yorkers.”

The nonprofit consortium includes Columbia University, Cornell University, New York University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the State University of New York, the City University of New York and the Flatiron Institute.

The group’s work will be led by Dr. Robert J. Harrison, founding director of the Institute for Advanced Computational Science at Stony Brook University. Harrison, whose work has overlapped with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and other Energy Department national laboratories, is serving as the group’s interim director while the state searches for a permanent leader.

In the press release, Harrison said he believes the “historic investment” will transform research.

“It gives our researchers access to high-performance computer technology at a scale typically reserved for only the largest tech companies or nations, positioning New York State to take the national lead on AI-enabled scientific discovery and engineering design,” he said.

According to the state’s press materials, a common barrier for AI researchers is access to expensive computing power.

“These resources are increasingly concentrated in the hands of large technology companies, who maintain outsized control of the AI development ecosystem,” the release reads. “As a result, researchers, public interest organizations, and small companies are being left behind, which has enormous implications for AI safety and society at large. Empire AI will bridge this gap and accelerate the development of AI centered in public interest for New York State.”