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Empire AI reveals groundbreaking research projects conducted on Alpha, advancing responsible AI for the public good

With Supercomputer Running at Maximum Capacity, 85 Research Projects & More Than 250 Researchers Already Have Approved Access to Empire AI Computing Capabilities

Research Includes Exploring the Stars, Discovering Medical Breakthroughs in Cancer Treatment, Improving Weather Predictions to Respond to Climate Change, and Many More that Could Directly Benefit the Lives of New Yorkers

 

The Empire AI consortium today revealed details of new research projects that are already underway using the Alpha supercomputer, less than one year after being launched by New York State. The first-in-the-nation consortium of public and private research institutions advancing AI research for the public good at this scale is now the national model in responsible AI innovation. Empire AI’s leading research institutions are pioneering safe, equitable, and accessible AI research and development which will benefit every corner of New York. By increasing collaboration between New York State’s world-class research institutions, Empire AI is creating efficiencies of scale not able to be achieved by any single university, promoting responsible research and development, and unlocking AI opportunities focused on public good.

The highlighted work is a small sample of the research Empire AI is advancing, as the supercomputer is now officially running at maximum capacity. Currently, 85 research projects are being conducted on Empire AI, with more than 250 researchers having been granted access to the system to date. These researchers are already using this extraordinary computing power to conduct groundbreaking research, from exploring the stars, to medical breakthroughs in treating cancer, to making better weather predictions, which will directly benefit the lives of everyday New Yorkers.

“Empire AI is already advancing responsible artificial intelligence research all over the state as hundreds of researchers are making tremendous progress on exciting new projects,” said Empire AI Interim Executive Director Robert Harrison. “From tackling climate change and developing new language therapies to combating infectious diseases and improving healthcare outcomes, this early research is just the beginning. This would not be possible without Governor Hochul and the state legislature, whose visionary leadership has positioned New York at the forefront of AI development and innovation, benefitting the lives of all New Yorkers.”

Made possible by a philanthropic contribution from the Simons Foundation, and launched by Governor Hochul on the University at Buffalo’s campus in October 2024, Empire AI Alpha is the first phase of the larger Empire AI initiative. While Alpha is only a small fraction of Empire AI’s eventual computing power, it is already the 243rd most powerful computer in the world according to the November rankings of the TOP500 list, the industry-standard benchmark for supercomputers. Alpha also ranked 38th on TOP500’s Green 500 list, which ranks the number of calculations per watt of power.

Empire AI’s Alpha system is also significantly reducing the amount of time research takes, from months or years to a matter of days or weeks. For example, at Binghamton University, Associate Professor Jeremy Blackburn is using Empire AI to identify and combat hate on the internet. This work requires analyzing millions of social media posts, which would ordinarily take more than 20 years using current lab infrastructure, but with Empire AI, can be done in 10-15 weeks.

Additional examples of how researchers are using Empire AI to solve society’s problems include:

  • Columbia University: Professor Tian Zheng is building models of the climate, which can help communities prepare for future impact of extreme weather events.
  • Cornell University: Professor Ekta Khurana at Weill Cornell Medicine will use Empire AI to improve prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment, helping patients in New York State and reducing healthcare costs.
  • City University of New York (CUNY): Professor Rabinda Mandal is studying how malaria affects the gut microbiome, pioneering new strategies to combat infectious diseases.
  • New York University: Professor Christine Constantinople is using AI to better understand the human brain, in particular how we make decisions and solve problems.
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI): Professor Ge Wang is building models to help analyze CT scans to better diagnose and treat lung cancer.
  • State University of New York (SUNY): Srirangaraj Setlur and team at University at Buffalo are developing technologies that will provide adaptive speech and language therapies to children with special needs.

As part of the FY 2026 Executive Budget, Governor Hochul is proposing $90 million in capital funding to substantially increase the computing power of Empire AI. If approved by the legislature, this state investment would be matched by $50 million in private funding from new members and $25 million over 10 years in operating funding from the State University of New York (SUNY). If approved by the Empire AI board, this $165 million in additional funding would greatly increase the capability and capacity of the computer, while also supporting expanding access for SUNY researchers, and the addition of new members including the University of Rochester, the Rochester Institute of Technology, and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

For more information about Empire AI, visit empireai.edu.