Governor Kathy Hochul has announced a $5 million investment to establish Departments of AI and Society across eight State University of New York (SUNY) campuses. The initiative marks a major step in ensuring that artificial intelligence (AI) research in New York State promotes public good, ethical innovation, and inclusive collaboration.
“This is about more than preparing students for the future of AI,” said Hochul. “We’re shaping how AI serves society — making sure it strengthens communities and supports our economy.”
Eight SUNY Campuses to Host New AI and Society Programs
Funding will support the creation or expansion of AI-focused departments, institutes, and research centers at:
- University at Albany – AI & Society College & Research Center
- Binghamton University – Institute for AI and Society
- University at Buffalo – Department of AI and Society
- SUNY Downstate – Global Center for AI, Society and Mental Health
- SUNY ESF – Center for AI, Society, and the Environment
- SUNY Poly – Institute for AI and Society
- Stony Brook University – Department of Technology, AI and Society
- Upstate Medical – AHEAD Center (AI for Health Equity, Analytics, and Diagnostics)
These institutions will explore how AI intersects with mental health, climate science, ethics, and public health. Many projects will also include community partnerships and interdisciplinary student training.
Empire AI Expands at University at Buffalo
Hochul also highlighted early success from Empire AI Alpha, the first phase of a statewide computing hub housed at the University at Buffalo. Empire AI brings together researchers from SUNY campuses, CUNY, and private institutions like Cornell, NYU, Columbia, and RPI to collaborate on public-interest AI research.
Current projects include:
- A UB-led initiative to create AI-driven diagnostics for every disease
- Binghamton’s research into large language models and online antisemitism
- Stony Brook’s work on vaccine development using AI-powered antigen design
Teaching Students, Protecting Society
To further embed AI across disciplines, SUNY has added artificial intelligence to its General Education Framework under Information Literacy. The goal: prepare students to understand, use, and critique AI responsibly.
“SUNY researchers and students are leading the way,” said SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. “Thanks to Governor Hochul’s leadership, we’re using AI to advance the public good.”
Economic and Ethical Goals
Empire State Development President Hope Knight said the initiative ensures AI becomes a driver of inclusive economic opportunity. “By investing in ethical, interdisciplinary AI, we’re shaping New York’s long-term innovation economy.”
Lawmakers echoed the message. Senator Toby Ann Stavisky said the state’s first-in-the-nation effort ensures that AI’s development remains focused on ethics and responsibility. Assemblymember Steve Otis called it a national model for “public purpose” AI research.
Assemblymember Alicia Hyndman added, “SUNY’s commitment under Governor Hochul’s leadership ensures that AI helps address real societal challenges, from hate speech to healthcare equity.”
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