Thanks to a historic academic gift, the largest in the university’s history, Binghamton University is poised to become a national leader in responsible artificial intelligence.
A record $55 million investment from Binghamton University alumni and the state of New York will create the Center for AI Responsibility and Research, the first independent AI research center at a public university in the United States. Research conducted through the new center will build on Binghamton’s work advancing AI for the public good.
The center, part of the Empire AI project, an effort to establish New York as a leader in responsible AI research and development, will be supported by a $30 million commitment from Tom Secunda (’76, MA’79), co-founder and vice chairman of Bloomberg LP, a key private sector partner and philanthropist involved in Governor Hochul’s Empire AI consortium. This is in addition to a $25 million capital investment from Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature.
“The Center for AI Responsibility and Research brings together innovative research and scholarship, ethical leadership and public engagement at a time when all three are urgently needed,” said President Anne Daleba. “We are deeply grateful for the visionary support of Governor Hochul and the state Legislature, and Tom Secunda for his extraordinary generosity and continued commitment to our alma mater. Together, we are building a research environment where AI can strengthen our communities, build our economy, and earn the public’s trust.”
“Artificial intelligence is advancing rapidly and this technology impacts everything we do, so we need to be equally nimble to ensure AI works safely and responsibly for New Yorkers,” Governor Hochul said. “The Center for AI Accountability and Research will be an independent research arm that provides New Yorkers with transparency and ensures that AI is used in the public interest.”
Binghamton University is one of the first members of the Empire AI consortium, and researchers on its campus are using Empire Alpha, a supercomputer located at the State University of New York at Buffalo, until full-scale Empire AI computing is completed. Binghamton has approved 10 projects led by faculty researchers and their students who are leveraging Empire Alpha and working to advance AI for public benefit in New York.
“SUNY is moving forward, and thanks to Governor Hochul and the state Legislature, as well as private donors like Tom Secunda, our talented faculty and students have a top-notch independent research environment to support our efforts and move New York forward,” said SUNY President John B. King, Jr. “This historic investment is part of Governor Hochul’s continued efforts to double down on research at SUNY and ensure we are at the forefront of emerging technologies, including AI. There is no better place for this work than right here in the SUNY family.”
The center will build on the research of Binghamton faculty who use machine learning and data science to solve real-world challenges, from delivering better health care to improving information security. Recently, electrical and computer engineering professor Yu Chen won $50,000 from the SUNY Technology Accelerator Fund (TAF) to help develop technology to flag deepfake content and AI images.
“Responsible AI means creating technology we can trust, and the State University of New York campus has the best tools to offer our talented faculty and aspiring student researchers,” said the State University of New York Board of Trustees. “We are deeply grateful to Governor Hochul, state leaders, and Tom Secunda for their outstanding commitment to AI research and innovation.”
