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Philanthropist Tom Secunda has donated $10.5 million to Cornell University to support AI research at Cornell Tech and Cornell Bowers CIS. His gift funds the Cornell Empire AI Postdoctoral Fellowship, an annual AI conference, and access to Empire AI's high-performance computing. This strengthens Cornell’s role in AI innovation and boosts New York's leadership in the field.
By Siddharth VermaUpdated
In addition to strengthening Cornell’s AI research capabilities, Secunda's gift will establish the Cornell Empire AI Postdoctoral Fellowship Program Fund. This initiative, created in partnership with the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute at Cornell Tech, will attract leading AI scholars from around the world.
To further highlight Cornell’s AI advancements, Secunda’s donation will also fund an annual AI conference at Cornell Tech. This event will showcase the work of Cornell fellows and faculty utilizing Empire AI's computing resources, bringing together experts from academia, industry, and government to discuss the future of AI.
Provost Kavita Bala emphasized the impact of Secunda's gift, noting that it will cement Cornell's reputation as a national leader in AI research.
"The transformational potential of their work will be facilitated by the computing resources now available through the Empire AI Consortium," Bala said. “This will also showcase New York state's leadership in AI.”
Greg Morrisett, the Jack and Rilla Neafsey Dean and Vice Provost of Cornell Tech, echoed these sentiments, calling Secunda's contribution a "game-changer" for AI research at Cornell.
"The Cornell Tech community is grateful to Tom Secunda for his wisdom and generosity in creating this opportunity for our campus and the AI research community," Morrisett said. “Tom's support allows us to significantly expand our research in AI by attracting an elite cohort of the best researchers in the world.”
Empire AI represents a new era of AI innovation in New York. By fostering collaboration between universities, state agencies, and private sector partners, the initiative is designed to ensure that AI development remains ethical, inclusive, and beneficial to society, inviting everyone to be part of this transformative journey.
Secunda, who also serves on the steering committee for the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership.
"I'm honoured to be contributing to the advancement of Empire AI," he said. “It is shaping up to be one of the most impactful public-private technology partnerships in recent memory.”
With this gift, Cornell Tech and Cornell Bowers CIS are poised to make significant strides in AI research, attracting global talent and driving economic growth in New York's tech sector.
As AI continues to revolutionize industries and reshape the future, Secunda's investment ensures that Cornell remains at the forefront of this transformation, pioneering advancements that will benefit both the state of New York and the world. Keep reading at Education Post News for more global updates.
