Launched in April 2024 by Governor Kathy Hochul, Empire AI is a bold partnership of New York’s leading public and private universities coming together to establish a state-of-the-art artificial intelligence computing center, housed at SUNY’s University at Buffalo. Empire AI is already facilitating statewide innovation, research, and development of AI technologies.
Empire AI gives its members access to high-performance computing power to use for responsible AI research and development. Its members include Columbia University, Cornell University, CUNY, NYU, RPI, SUNY, and the Flatiron Institute.
With Empire AI, New York is now the national model in responsible AI innovation, with its leading research institutions pioneering safe, equitable, and accessible AI research and development that is benefitting every corner of New York.
In October 2024, Phase Alpha—the first stage of Empire AI—was launched on the University at Buffalo’s campus. The Alpha system is the 245th most powerful computer in the world, and includes 96 of the most powerful computer processors currently available for training AI models, thanks to a generous gift from the Simons Foundation. Alpha’s electrical power efficiency ranks 38th on TOP500’s Green 500 list.
Empire AI is attracting the next generation of tech talent, and New York has become an international hub for developing AI technology for the public good and for AI-powered businesses.
New York’s academic institutions are focusing on the most interesting problems and challenges that AI is uniquely situated to address, including the challenges that AI itself presents.
The full Empire AI computing center is still scheduled to be completed in 2026 and is being built on the University at Buffalo’s North Campus.
Empire AI will be an energy efficient computing facility, sustainably powered by clean and renewable hydropower from Niagara Falls and recirculating heat generated from the facility to warm dorms on campus.
