The initiative is aimed at strengthening the state's economy and offsetting the disparities between tech companies and academic institutions in the race to develop A.I. However, the plan, which involves creating its own cloud computing infrastructure, has raised concerns about security and reliability. Supporters argue that the project will enable collaborative research in the public interest and allow academics to apply A.I. technology to new fields of study.
Key takeaways:
- Gov. Kathy Hochul is proposing a first-of-its-kind statewide consortium, named 'Empire A.I.', to make New York a key player in artificial intelligence research.
- The plan involves directing $275 million in state funds towards building a center to be used by six of the state’s research institutions, with additional private funding from various sources.
- The initiative faces challenges, including legal questions over access to data, and will need to be approved by the state’s Democratic-controlled Legislature.
- Despite concerns over the plan's logistics and security, supporters argue it could enable collaborative research in the public interest and apply A.I. technology to new fields of study.