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Empire AI Newsletter, June 2026

UPDATE FROM EMPIRE AI
KIRAN KESHAV

June 2026

Empire AI continues to build momentum as a national model for responsible, public-interest artificial intelligence.

Across New York, we are seeing what becomes possible when world-class computing power is put in the hands of academic researchers: new centers of excellence, cleaner and more efficient infrastructure, faster research timelines and a growing community committed to using AI to serve the public good.

I’m excited to share several major updates on Empire AI’s progress, and to invite you to join us for an upcoming conversation at NY Tech Week about how Empire AI was built, what it is already delivering and where we go next.

1. Binghamton launches nation’s first independent AI responsibility center at a public university

Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced the launch of the Center for AI Responsibility and Research at the State University of New York at Binghamton — the first independent AI research center at a public university in the United States.

Fueled by a historic $30 million philanthropic gift from a group of donors led by Binghamton alumnus and Empire AI board chair Tom Secunda, along with a $25 million SUNY investment, the center will focus on the safety, security, transparency and trustworthiness of artificial intelligence systems.

This is exactly the kind of public-interest AI ecosystem New York set out to build: shared computing power through Empire AI, paired with independent research dedicated to making advanced AI systems secure, understandable and worthy of public confidence.

2. Empire AI and UB are turning computing into a clean energy asset

Empire AI and the University at Buffalo also announced a major clean energy initiative that will capture and reuse heat from Empire AI’s supercomputing center to help heat buildings across UB’s North Campus.

As part of UB’s North Campus Clean Energy Master Plan, the project will connect the Empire AI supercomputing center to the Baker Chilled Water Plant through new neutral-temperature water pipes and a network of geothermal wells. The system will allow heat generated by high-performance computing to be recovered and redistributed to campus buildings.
Empire AI was designed to prove that world-class computing power and climate leadership can go hand in hand. By using the same electrons twice — first to drive scientific discovery, then to keep buildings warm — New York is creating a model for responsible AI infrastructure.

3. Latest research: Empire AI at work
Researchers across Empire AI member institutions are already using shared computing power to take on ambitious questions in health, energy, transportation, technology and the arts. Here are a few recent examples:

  • Binghamton University — Prof. Sozanne Solmaz is studying proteins linked to developmental brain and muscle disorders, work that could help support earlier understanding and treatment of rare genetic conditions.
  • NYU — Prof. Mark Tuckerman is using AI-driven simulations to develop new materials for flow batteries, helping strengthen the electric grid and support a cleaner energy future.
  • Cornell University — Prof. Kilian Weinberger is developing AI systems that give users more control over large language model outputs, making them safer, more reliable and more transparent.
  • University at Buffalo — Prof. Thomas Grant is developing an AI-powered tool to better understand how proteins move and change shape in the human body, work that could help speed drug discovery and support more precise treatments for diseases including cancer and Alzheimer’s.

Each project reflects Empire AI’s core mission: giving academic researchers the tools they need to solve real-world problems and serve the public good.

4. Empire AI at NY Tech Week

On June 3, HR&A Advisors and Tech:NYC hosted a panel discussion at NY Tech Week offering an inside look at Empire AI — how it came together, what it is already delivering and what comes next.

It was exciting to bring together several people who helped shape Empire AI from the beginning, including:

  • Carolyn Dee from the Office of Governor Kathy Hochul, who has been a key policy partner since before launch;
  • Julie Samuels, president and CEO of Tech:NYC, who has been a major supporter of New York’s public-interest AI vision;
  • Jeannette Wing, Columbia University executive vice president for research and an Empire AI board member;
  • and me. Giacomo Bagarella of HR&A Advisors moderated.

5. Stay connected
Empire AI is continuing to grow — from new research capacity and partnerships to major investments in responsible AI, clean energy infrastructure and scientific talent.

To stay up to date, please visit empireai.edu, follow Empire AI on LinkedIn or reach out to [email protected] with questions.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,
Kiran Keshav
Empire AI