The funding, announced by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday, will help launch the center’s second phase, known as Empire AI Beta.
It will enable the consortium to purchase state-of-the-art equipment from NVIDIA that is 11 times more powerful than Empire AI’s Alpha system, which began operating last fall on UB’s Downtown Campus. The two systems combined, Hochul said, “will propel Empire AI to become one of the most advanced academic computers in the world.”
“With Empire AI, New York is leading in emerging technology and ensuring the power of AI is harnessed for public good and developed right here in this great state,” Hochul said. “The launch of Beta will supercharge our efforts to advance responsible AI development by some of our brightest minds at research institutions focused on purpose, not profit.”
“Empire AI Beta significantly expands the consortium’s supercomputing power as we continue to lead nationally and globally, harnessing AI for the benefit of society,” says Venu Govindaraju, UB‘s vice president for research and economic development and a member of the Empire AI Board of Directors.
“UB is proud to be home to this transformative resource and to be at the forefront of academia’s efforts to realize AI for public good. With more than four decades of leadership in AI, we remain committed to ongoing collaboration with our partners across New York, driving critical innovations that make a positive impact in communities here and beyond.”
The announcement comes a month after state lawmakers approved Hochul’s proposal for an additional $90 million in funding for Empire AI. The consortium is now backed by over $500 million in public and private funding, including up to $340 million in state capital funding, Hochul said.
That funding supported the addition of three new members: the University of Rochester, the Rochester Institute of Technology, and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. They join Empire AI’s seven founding members: the State University of New York, the City University of New York, Columbia University, Cornell University, New York University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and the Flatiron Institute.
UB researchers are already employing Empire AI’s computers to tackle some of society’s greatest challenges. Examples include developing technology that aims to ease the nation’s shortage of mental health professionals, improving medical imaging, and tools to assist people with motor neuron diseases like ALS.
Meanwhile, progress is being made on building a permanent site to house the supercomputing facility on UB’s North Campus.
source: Cory Nealon
