New Independent Analysis Finds Empire AI Poised to Deliver Billions in Economic and Societal Benefits for New Yorkers

NEW YORK, NY – A new economic impact analysis finds that New York’s Empire AI consortium is already strengthening the state’s research ecosystem and has the potential to generate billions of dollars in long-term economic value as it continues to scale. Commissioned by Friends of Empire AI and conducted by HR&A Advisors, the report concludes that shared supercomputing resources at the scale provided by Empire AI – historically available only to the largest technology companies – are dramatically accelerating research timelines, attracting talent, and driving job-creating investment in Buffalo and across New York State.

“Empire AI was envisioned by Governor Hochul to put world-class computing power in the hands of researchers, not just the largest tech companies, and this report shows what that makes possible for New York,” said Robert Harrison, interim executive director of Empire AI. “By turning months-long calculations into work that can be done in days, we’re accelerating discovery, stretching research dollars further, and positioning New York’s universities to compete at the very frontiers of AI and high-performance computing.”

Since October 2024, Empire AI has been operating Alpha, a compute cluster donated by the Simons Foundation, to support researchers across its member institutions. Alpha has already supported more than 130+ research projects in areas such as advanced manufacturing and cleantech, biotech and life sciences, and technology and digital media, with more than 500 researchers accessing the system to date.

Because AI models and infrastructure can dramatically speed and scale complex analyses, HR&A’s report estimates that widespread use of Empire AI’s tools could effectively double R&D productivity in key sectors across New York State. The report projects:

• A potential annual increase of $266 million in R&D productivity, amounting to more than $2.7 billion over ten years – a more than 5-to-1 return on Empire AI’s current investment based on productivity alone.
• Significant time savings as researchers compress work that previously took months into days, allowing teams to run more ambitious experiments and bring new ideas to fruition faster./li>

The report also finds that Empire AI is enhancing New York’s competitiveness in the race for AI talent and leadership. Alpha was ranked as the 243rd most powerful supercomputer in the world when it launched in 2024 and has quickly become a magnet for faculty, postdoctoral researchers, and students seeking access to state-of-the-art AI infrastructure. Future investments will keep Empire AI competitive and in leading positions.

In addition to the research and productivity impacts, HR&A evaluated the direct economic effect of building out Empire AI’s supercomputing facilities in Buffalo. Between 2024 and 2027, Empire AI is investing approximately $196 million in construction and equipment for its Alpha, Beta, and future Gamma systems. Of that total, an estimated $90 million will go to in-state suppliers and contractors, generating:

• $155 million in one-time economic output in New York State through direct and multiplier effects in construction, equipment, and related sectors.
• Nearly 200 jobs per year between 2024 and 2027, with approximately $67 million in labor income – an average of about $89,200 per worker.

Empire AI’s next-generation Beta system, now moving forward with support from New York State, will significantly expand computing capacity and is expected to support 1,500–2,000 researchers and 300–400 projects once fully online. Together with the future Gamma system, these upgrades will further solidify New York’s position as a national model for responsible, open AI research focused on the public good.

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

About Empire AI

Launched in April 2024 by Governor Kathy Hochul, Empire AI is a bold partnership of New York’s leading public and private universities to establish a state-of-the-art artificial intelligence computing center, housed at SUNY’s University at Buffalo. The consortium includes Columbia University, Cornell University, CUNY, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), the University of Rochester, Rochester Institute of Technology, SUNY, and the Flatiron Institute, as well as philanthropic backers including Tom Secunda and the Simons Foundation. Empire AI is pioneering safe, equitable, and accessible AI research and development that benefits every corner of New York.

About HR&A Advisors

HR&A Advisors, Inc. (HR&A) is an employee-owned company advising visionary clients on how to create vital places, build equitable and resilient communities, and improve people’s lives. Learn more at www.hraadvisors.com.