Suffolk Reporter

Stony Brook University is launching the AI Innovation Institute (AI3), enhancing its capabilities as a leader in AI research and application. This expansion will elevate the existing Institute for AI-driven Discovery and Innovation, established in 2018 within the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, to a university-wide entity reporting to the provost.

Stony Brook University Provost and Executive Vice President Carl Lejuez announced the initiative on September 5 via email to the university community.

Last spring, the Office of the Provost led a group of more than 30 faculty, staff, and administrators to explore ways to expand SBU’s strengths in AI research. Their recommendation was to launch AI3, following recent investments by New York State and SUNY with initiatives like Empire AI, SUNY STRIVE for AI, and the SUNY IBM Alliance.

“As a university-wide enterprise, the AI Innovation Institute (AI3) is intended to accelerate, coordinate and organize AI innovation and education across Stony Brook,” Lejuez stated. “The institute will serve to empower the entire university community and beyond, catalyzing core AI research, curriculum innovation, and societal change in the ever-evolving landscape of knowledge work.”

A national search will be initiated to find an inaugural director. The search will be co-chaired by Steve Skiena, distinguished professor in the Department of Computer Science and director of the Institute for AI-driven Discovery and Innovation, alongside Robert Harrison from the Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics.

The broader search committee includes members from diverse departments across Stony Brook University as well as a representative from Brookhaven National Laboratory. The full committee membership is available on the Provost’s Office website. Opus Partners will support this national search effort.

Skiena will also serve as interim director of AI3. “As interim director, Dr. Skiena will focus on efforts that will establish a basic framework for the institute’s operations so that the inaugural director can immediately implement vision and strategy,” Lejuez added. “Interim Director Skiena will begin hiring staff support for the institute and oversee internal funding for projects developed by teams of faculty/staff.”

An upcoming announcement will detail an AI Seed Grant opportunity designed to support collaborative projects across three tracks: Collaboratory Research in AI; Technical Support for Discipline-Centric Research; and Seed Grants for AI Education and Service.

Additionally, an AI Town Hall event is scheduled for Wednesday, September 11 from 1 pm to 2 pm at New Computer Science Room 120 or via Zoom. Led by Skiena, this session aims to provide an overview of major campus initiatives related to AI including details about Stony Brook’s role in New York State’s Empire AI program.