Governor Hochul Launches Empire AI Beta to Boost New York's Research Capacity
Governor Kathy Hochul announced the launch of Empire AI Beta, a powerful academic research computer now online in New York. This initiative, backed by over $500 million in public and private funding, involves 10 member universities and research institutions. Empire AI Beta, housed at the State University of New York at Buffalo, significantly enhances computing power for academic researchers, offering an 11-fold increase in AI training capacity and a 40-fold boost in AI inference. The system is set to accelerate over 300 research projects across various fields, including healthcare, climate science, and cybersecurity. The initiative aims to position New York as a leader in responsible AI development for public good, with the National Science Foundation taking inspiration to launch similar AI infrastructure hubs nationwide.