Stony Brook University recently announced the creation of a new AI Innovation Institute (AI3), AI-Driven Discovery and Innovation Lab It was established in 2018 as a university-wide initiative from a department-level research institute within the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science.
Steve Skiena, distinguished professor in the Department of Computer Science and interim director of AI3, hosted a virtual town hall on Sept. 11 to discuss Stony Brook’s AI initiatives in more detail.
Sciena noted the impact of AI being a pervasive technology that is not limited to the high tech sector but impacts all sectors. everyone.
“Beyond those working in the core and foundational areas of AI, there is another world where these tools are revolutionary and will change the way people do business. all “The vision for the AI Innovation Institute is to serve both sides,” Skiena said.
Schiena highlighted the growing importance of AI, driven by groundbreaking tools such as ChatGPT and other generative AI techniques, saying that AI is now embedded in every aspect of our lives, from healthcare to education, and continues to expand. He emphasized that Stony Brook University is uniquely positioned to lead AI innovation thanks to its world-class faculty and research centers that are already renowned nationally and internationally for their contributions to AI.
Central to the town hall discussion was the announcement of the University’s ambitious plans to establish and develop AI3. “The goal of AI3 is to advance AI, stimulate research, attract funding, and make Stony Brook a more attractive place for AI-minded students and faculty,” Skiena said.
AI3 currently reports directly to the Provost’s Office and is designed to accelerate, coordinate, and enhance AI innovation and education across the Stony Brook campus and across departments and disciplines.
Sciena said AI3 will focus on three core pillars:
“We have a research arm, an education arm and a service arm,” he said. “Research is the largest of those three pillars.” Skiena emphasized that the institute is not an academic arm.
One of the key announcements at the town hall was the launch of the AI Seed Grants Program. The initiative will provide funding support to interdisciplinary AI projects across three distinct tracks: AI collaborations, technical support for discipline-focused research, and seed grants for AI education and services. The grants are designed to foster collaboration between computational AI experts and faculty from non-technical fields, focusing on solving complex problems across all research disciplines.
“The AI Seed Grant Program plans to fund at least six projects in its first year, with a focus on efforts that have the potential to lead to larger funding opportunities,” Skiena said.
Another key point of discussion was Stony Brook’s participation in New York State’s Empire AI program. As part of this effort, the university will contribute to the state’s broader efforts to position itself as a leader in AI research and applications, alongside programs such as SUNY STRIVE for AI and the SUNY IBM Alliance.
Sciena also spoke about the construction of the NeuroAI Building, part of a re-envisioned engineering complex that is scheduled for completion in 2027 and will house computer labs and offices for faculty, staff, graduate and postdoctoral students.
As interim director, Skiena has already begun laying the foundation for AI3’s future success, hiring support staff and preparing the institute for its next phase under a permanent director. A national search for this first director is currently underway, with a committee co-chaired by Skiena and Robert Harrison, professor of applied mathematics and statistics and director of the Institute for Advanced Computational Sciences.
With the founding of AI3, the launch of the AI Seed Grant program, and Stony Brook’s active role in statewide AI initiatives, the university is courageous in leading the way into the future of AI.
“AI will impact the way we teach, what “We’re committed to what we teach, and it’s important that we advance our work here,” Skiena said. “AI offers new opportunities to do some of the work we do at the university better.”
— Beth Squire & Robert Emprotto
