As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to evolve, the state of New York and the University at Buffalo are jointly announcing a new full-scale state-of-the-art AI research and computing center to address public and small entities’ access to AI resources.
Including a $250 million capital grant from the state, New York will leverage almost $400 million in public and private investments to kickstart the Empire AI Consortium initiative. The consortium, led in partnership with the University at Buffalo, will drive research and innovation in AI, generate lasting economic benefits throughout the state and provide a dependable source of reliable, trustworthy information as AI technologies advance.
The Empire AI Consortium will be housed on the University at Buffalo’s campus and will serve as the initial base of operations for the project. Focusing on collaborative efforts, the initiative will be developed through partnerships with founding partners, industry leaders and higher education partners across several of New York’s leading research institutions.
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The initiative will address the growing challenge of access to AI resources. As AI capabilities become increasingly dominated by large technology companies, smaller research entities and organizations often find it difficult to compete. The Empire AI consortium aims to bridge the gap between small and large companies by democratizing access to advanced computing resources.
Officials believe the initiative will foster a technological environment where innovative solutions can be developed for public interest.
A board of directors, comprised of higher education representatives at the City University of New York, Cornell University and Columbia University, will guide the Empire AI initiative as it continues to grow. This collaborative approach will allow for enhanced innovation and synergy through partnerships with New York’s leading research universities.
The Empire AI Consortium is expected to conduct research later this year, in part thanks to an initial computing power donation from the Simons Foundation. The foundation will pledge state-of-the-art computing power and expert staffing for the consortium to kickstart its research efforts promptly.
Additionally, the University at Buffalo will now seek requests for proposals to advance the consortium’s permanent home on the university’s campus.
“Empire AI will put New York State at the epicenter of AI innovation,” University at Buffalo President Satish Tripathi says in a press release. “This game changing initiative will enable researchers across the consortium to use the power of AI to solve some of our world’s most troubling problems. UB is very proud to be the home of Empire AI.”
In conjunction with the Empire AI Consortium, the state is announcing legislation aimed at promoting safe and ethical usage of AI in New York. This legislation mandates transparency in political communication involving AI-generated content, ensuring that any use of deceptive media is disclosed to the public.
The consortium’s development marks a step toward leveraging AI resources and technology for the betterment of society. As research commences this fall, officials anticipate the Empire AI Consortium will make lasting contributions to both local communities and New York’s technology and AI sectors.
Photo by Ilya Pavlov on Unsplash
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