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Cuny Receives $75 Million For Empire AI And More


02 July, 2024

**A Monumental Leap for AI Research: CUNY Receives Historic $75 Million Boost**

In a monumental stride for the world of artificial intelligence, The City University of New York (CUNY) has announced the reception of a transformative $75 million donation, the highest in the public university’s esteemed history. This generous endowment originates from the Simons Foundation and is destined to propel CUNY into the epicenter of AI research and development.

The Simons Foundation’s donation is intricately connected to a broader state endeavor, known as the Empire AI initiative. This groundbreaking project, unveiled by Governor Hochul earlier in the month, is a collaborative effort to elevate the status of New York as a leader in the artificial intelligence domain. Empire AI is envisioned as a public-private consortium that joins the forces of seven NY institutions to harness the power of an artificial intelligence computing hub located upstate.

This collaborative initiative is set to redefine the landscape as it seeks to democratize the often-prohibitive computing resources essential for AI advancement, traditionally dominated by major tech conglomerates. By extending these advanced tools to a wider array of researchers and public interest outfits, Empire AI aspires to establish a more equitable foundation for innovation and knowledge growth.

Governor Hochul has expressed her commitment to this cause, pledging up to $275 million in state grants and funds, supplemented by private investments, to nurture the consortium. “This new initiative and computational facility will allow us to collectively advance and utilize AI technology,” stated CUNY Chancellor Felix Matos Rodríguez, affirming the university’s eagerness to create a national model through this work.

One-third of this unprecedented donation will be channeled directly towards CUNY’s integration in the Empire AI project, fostering an environment where AI tools can be developed and utilized to their fullest potential. Among these advancements, the AI text generator and AI video generator are key areas that could benefit greatly from the computational power and collaborative opportunities presented by the initiative.

The remaining funds are designated to establish 25 esteemed faculty positions and an innovative master’s degree program in computational science located within the bustling academic environment of the CUNY Graduate Center in Midtown Manhattan. This initiative will aptly prepare the next generation of scientists, engineers, and thinkers to push the boundaries of AI research, including the development and ethical use of AI images generator and other artificial intelligence generated images.

With several academic titans such as Columbia University, Cornell University, New York University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and the State University of New York on board, the state indicates SUNY Buffalo as the potential host for the highly anticipated upstate computing center.

The momentous gift by the Simons Foundation stands as a testament to their commitment to fostering cutting-edge scientific research. “The Simons Foundation is excited to be a partner in building this new AI facility,” said David Spergel, the organization’s president. This sentiment echoes the foundation’s previous philanthropy, showcased last summer when they made a staggering $500 million unrestricted donation to Stony Brook University, part of SUNY.

Beyond the excitement surrounding the latest ai news & ai tools, the underlying significance of this donation reaches further, addressing the inescapable need for responsible, public-benefit research in a rapidly evolving technology landscape. CUNY’s reinforced capability to dive deep into the complexities and wonders of AI promises to usher in an era of discovery and technological responsibility that will reverberate across industries and communities for years to come.

Stay tuned to AI Headlines for more on how this landmark donation unfolds and shapes the future of artificial intelligence research and education.