New York is expanding access to artificial intelligence research and training across the SUNY system through a new set of campus partnerships tied to the state’s Empire AI initiative.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that SUNY’s four university centers will partner with colleges and community colleges statewide to give students and faculty broader access to advanced AI tools, research experiences and professional development — all aimed at using AI for the public good.
Linking campuses through Empire AI
The partnerships will tap into the Empire AI supercomputer housed at the University at Buffalo, allowing SUNY institutions of all sizes to share resources that would otherwise be out of reach.
The four SUNY university centers — Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo and Stony Brook — will work with dozens of partner campuses to offer hands-on research, workshops, microcredential courses and ethics-focused training in artificial intelligence.
State officials said the goal is to ensure AI innovation is not limited to a small number of elite programs, but is accessible across the state’s public higher education system.
What students and faculty will see
Each university center is leading a different effort.
SUNY Albany is partnering with campuses including Oneonta, Cobleskill and Hudson Valley Community College to expand AI-infused coursework and interdisciplinary research tied to real-world challenges.
SUNY Binghamton is launching a free, non-credit microcredential on AI fundamentals, workforce applications and ethics in partnership with several colleges and community colleges.
SUNY Buffalo is working with 11 campuses across Central and Western New York to create an “AI in Action” fellowship program focused on curriculum development, ethics, compliance and accessibility.
SUNY Stony Brook is teaming with Farmingdale State College and Suffolk County Community College on an eight-week paid summer research program that will bring undergraduates from across disciplines to Stony Brook for mentored AI research.
Part of a larger AI strategy
The campus partnerships build on New York’s broader investment in Empire AI, a more than $500 million public-private effort involving universities and research institutions across the state.
The governor’s 2026 agenda also calls for launching Empire AI Beta, which would dramatically expand the system’s computing power, and for creating the nation’s first independent university-based AI research center at Binghamton University focused on responsibility and ethics.
State leaders say the initiative is designed to prepare students for future careers, support innovation, and ensure AI development in New York is safe, ethical and inclusive.
Looking ahead
Supporters say the SUNY partnerships strengthen the state’s workforce pipeline while positioning New York as a national leader in responsible AI.
By connecting community colleges, technology colleges and research universities through shared infrastructure, officials said the effort puts cutting-edge tools into the hands of more students — and ties AI advancement directly to public benefit.
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