This past April, artificial intelligence leaders from across New York State gathered at the University at Buffalo for the State University of New York (SUNY) AI Symposium, a two-day event to discuss how the rapidly evolving technology is reshaping society.
“The SUNY AI Symposium at UB was a powerful demonstration of what is possible when we come together across disciplines and sectors,” said F. Shadi Sandvik, PhD, Senior Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Economic Development, State University of New York. “It reflected SUNY’s deep commitment to advancing collective innovation-not only in research labs and classrooms, but also through dynamic industry-academia collaborations and faculty and student-driven startups. AI is not just a technological frontier; it is a catalyst for advancing student success, economic mobility and real-world solutions that benefit our communities. At SUNY, we remain steadfast in our commitment to advance AI in service of the public good.”
The event brought together more than 330 attendees from across New York State, including AI-focused panelist participants, researchers, and speakers from throughout the SUNY system and other universities. Joined for lectures and demonstrations by leaders from IBM, Moog, Inc., M&T Bank and over 40 other companies and partners, the multifaceted event showcased how innovators are harnessing AI for the good of communities around the world.
The NYSTAR-supported event also highlighted the creation of UB’s Department of AI and Society, established to highlight and expand the possibilities of artificial intelligence in our daily lives, and set to launch in Fall 2025. The department plans to advance UB’s position as a national leader in AI; leverage significant investments from New York State; and support AI-focused degrees across an array of undergraduate programs and academic disciplines that will distinguish UB and attract students and faculty to campus.
According to details from the university, the department will complement existing academic departments and units, including UB’s Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, and Empire AI, the $400 million statewide consortium whose supercomputing center is located at UB. The consortium’s key research partners in the SUNY system also include the University at Albany, Binghamton University, and Stony Brook University.
SUNY and New York State have committed significant funds for the new department, and the University at Buffalo’s Provost’s Office will provide recurring funds and enable eventual location of the department in a new AI and Society Shared Research facility—which will feature computer labs, offices, conference rooms, and incubator space for startups—on UB’s North Campus. UB will also use the state funds to purchase high-performance computing equipment for use by UB researchers and students, and to recruit faculty to join the more than 200 professors already researching AI across various industries.
In addition, university leaders celebrated the ribbon cutting for the UB School of Management’s Center for AI Business Innovation. The center will bring UB’s leadership in AI to businesses and industries looking to leverage AI solutions.
The cumulative impact of these developments for UB and New York State is considerable, and like its AI Symposium, complements the university’s burgeoning expertise in this evolving field of study.
“New York State is home to both incredible talent and also a spirit of collaboration that defines our community,” said Venu Govindaraju, PhD, vice president for research and economic development at the University at Buffalo. “The SUNY AI Symposium at UB forged new connections across our campuses and with industry, making it clear that UB and SUNY are realizing AI for the public good.”