Academic AI Initiative
Empire AI: Pioneering Public Good Research with Advanced AI/HPC
Empire AI is a groundbreaking consortium of New York's leading public and private universities, established to create a state-of-the-art artificial intelligence computing center. This initiative pioneers safe, equitable, and accessible AI research and development, addressing the dominance of large technology companies in the AI ecosystem and directing AI capabilities towards the public benefit.
Executive Impact & Key Metrics
Empire AI's vision extends beyond computational power, driving significant economic and academic advancements for New York State and beyond.
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Initial Investment
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B200 GPUs (Beta System)
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Initial Economic Output
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Initial Job-Years Created
Deep Analysis & Enterprise Applications
Select a topic to dive deeper, then explore the specific findings from the research, rebuilt as interactive, enterprise-focused modules.
Foundation Models and Generative AI
Empire AI supports the development and improvement of large-scale AI models capable of generating various types of data—text, images, code—serving as foundational platforms for more specialized applications across industries.
AI for Scientific Discovery and Simulation
This initiative leverages AI and machine learning to accelerate scientific research across diverse disciplines. It includes developing surrogate models for complex physical simulations, driving breakthroughs in fields from climate science to materials engineering.
AI in Healthcare and Biomedical Research
Empire AI applies advanced AI to enhance healthcare, diagnostics, and our understanding of biological systems. Projects range from medical image analysis and biomolecular structure prediction to drug design and personalized AI for assistive communication. Example: Prof. Ekta Khurana at Weill Cornell Medicine uses Empire AI to improve prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Natural Language Processing and Understanding
Research here advances AI capabilities to process, understand, and generate human language. This includes critical work on analysis of hate speech and exploring the ethical implications of Large Language Models (LLMs). Example: SUNY's Prof. Srirangaraj Setlur is developing adaptive speech and language therapies for children.
Robotics and Embodied AI
The consortium fosters the development of intelligent agents that can interact with the physical world. This includes creating robots with improved perception and AI-powered interactive speech therapy agents, pushing the boundaries of autonomous systems.
Machine Learning Methodology and Applications
This category encompasses fundamental research into machine learning techniques and their application to a wide range of problems not covered elsewhere. It drives innovation in the core algorithms and approaches of AI. Example: NYU's Prof. Christine Constantinople uses AI to better understand the human brain.
Enterprise Process Flow
Project Proposal Submission
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Member Institution Screening
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Empire AI Central Review
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Export Control & Compliance
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Resource Allocation & Scheduling
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Research Project Execution
Exascale
Performance in 16-bit Tensor Operations for Beta System
$155 Million
Total Initial Economic Output for NY State
| Feature | Alpha System (Initial) | Beta System (Upcoming) |
|---|---|---|
| GPUs | 13 HGX nodes, 8 H100 80GB GPUs/node | 288 B200 GPUs (NVIDIA DGX GB200 NVL72 SuperPOD) |
| Cooling | Air-cooled | Liquid-cooled |
| Performance | Initial Resource, for various research projects | Exascale for 16-bit tensor ops, 7x faster ML training, 20x inference |
| Storage | 2.8PB DDN flash, 2PB VAST flash | 20+PB VAST, 10+PB DDN flash |
| Status | Operational (October 2024) | Operational (Early Fall 2025) |
Empire AI Model: A National Blueprint for Ethical AI
Empire AI represents a unique national model for ethical AI innovation. By bringing together New York's leading public and private universities, it pioneers safe, equitable, and accessible AI research directed towards the public good. This consortium-based approach aims to counter the dominance of large technology companies, ensuring AI development benefits society at large and fostering a competitive academic research environment. Key Point: Directing AI capabilities towards public benefit, not solely commercial interests.
Quantify Your Potential ROI
Beyond direct research, Empire AI's model generates substantial economic value. The preliminary economic impact study projects 750 job-years and $155 million in economic output for New York State from initial investments alone. Use our calculator to see how strategic AI adoption could transform your operations.
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Projected Annual Savings
Employee Hours Reclaimed Annually
Empire AI Roadmap & Key Milestones
Empire AI's ambitious plan unfolds in carefully structured phases, delivering increasingly powerful AI/HPC capabilities and expanding its impact on academic research.
Phase 1: Foundation & Alpha Launch (2024)
The Empire AI Consortium was formally established in July 2024, followed by the Alpha System becoming operational in October 2024. This initial phase secured significant state and academic funding, laying the groundwork for future expansion.
Phase 2: Beta System Deployment & Facility (2025)
April 2025 marks the onboarding of a new cohort of projects for the Alpha system. The state-of-the-art Beta system, featuring 288 B200 GPUs and exascale performance, will become operational in early Fall 2025. Concurrently, the new purpose-built facility is expected to be completed in Summer 2025, alongside significant power infrastructure upgrades.
Phase 3: Gamma & Long-Term Growth (2027+)
Looking ahead, the Gamma system is projected to begin operations by Spring 2027, followed by subsequent generations of AI computers every few years. This phase emphasizes continued infrastructure expansion, sustained job creation, and deepening economic impact across New York State through cutting-edge AI research and development.
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