Suffolk Reporter

Thirteen faculty teams at Stony Brook University have been awarded funding this semester through the university's AI Seed Grant Program. The initiative, which received nearly 50 applications, aims to enhance interdisciplinary work in artificial intelligence and support the integration of AI into new research projects. It also encourages faculty to explore how AI can be further incorporated into education and service.

"Almost every day, we see a new headline about how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing society, and I’m proud to see Stony Brook taking a leadership role in helping guide and shape these developments in powerful, creative, and thoughtful ways," said Carl Lejuez, executive vice president and provost. "We received an astounding variety of proposals that seek to answer deep, multifaceted questions. These projects truly demonstrate how engaged and curious Stony Brook is in the challenges and opportunities presented by artificial intelligence, and I’m eager to see where these new collaborations and explorations lead."

Steve Skeina, interim AI3 director and SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor, expressed enthusiasm for the range of proposals submitted: "It was great to see so many exciting proposals from across the university–my only regret is that we couldn’t fund more of them."

The program was launched in October 2024 by the Provost’s Office with support from the Office for Research and Innovation. This office managed the application process and oversaw the committee responsible for selecting winning proposals.

With over $500,000 distributed among 13 projects, the grant program seeks to inspire interdisciplinary collaborations that integrate AI systems to address complex societal issues and explore new areas of study.

For further details on all winning proposals, readers are directed to Ankita Nagpal's full story on the AI Innovation Institute website.