This Month's Latest Tech News in Buffalo, NY - Thursday July 31st 2025 Edition

Buffalo is rapidly establishing itself as a premier hub for artificial intelligence research and innovation, fueled by substantial state investments and academic collaboration.

The University at Buffalo (UB) hosts Empire AI, a consortium that recently secured $40 million to launch the Empire AI Beta supercomputer, which is 11 times more powerful than its Alpha predecessor.

Supported by over $500 million from public and private sources, Empire AI unites 10 member institutions including SUNY, RIT, and Columbia University to advance responsible AI development for societal benefit.

This supercomputing initiative addresses critical challenges such as mental health care shortages and medical imaging enhancements, with plans underway for a dedicated research facility on UB's North Campus (UBNow article on Empire AI supercomputing funding, Governor's Office announcement on Empire AI Beta supercomputer launch).

Complementing this, eight SUNY campuses, including UB, received $5 million to develop academic departments focused on AI and Society to foster ethical and inclusive AI research, preparing students to harness AI's public good potential (SUNY Press Release on AI and Society departments funding).

These efforts underpin Buffalo's growing stature at the forefront of AI innovation, emphasizing practical impact and education. For those interested in gaining AI skills applicable to any workplace, Nucamp offers a 15-week AI Essentials for Work bootcamp, blending foundational AI knowledge with real-world application.

More details and registration are available at Nucamp AI Essentials for Work bootcamp registration.

The University at Buffalo (UB) is launching a groundbreaking Department of AI and Society (AIS) this fall, backed by a $5 million investment from New York State as part of a broader SUNY initiative to promote ethical and inclusive AI research across eight campuses.

This interdisciplinary department, jointly housed in UB's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and College of Arts and Sciences, aims to integrate societal considerations at the core of AI development rather than as an afterthought.

Under the leadership of Professor Atri Rudra, the AIS department will offer innovative undergraduate and graduate programs incorporating AI applications in fields such as geography, health, public policy, communication, creativity, and languages.

The funding will support hiring at least 10 new faculty members and acquiring high-performance computing resources to enhance research and student learning. UB's commitment to AI innovation is further strengthened by its role in Empire AI, a $400 million statewide consortium headquartered at UB, featuring a supercomputing center.

Additionally, plans are underway to construct a dedicated AI & Society Building on UB's North Campus with facilities including computer labs, conference rooms, and incubator space for startups, fostering collaboration and entrepreneurship.

As Governor Kathy Hochul stated,

Investing in AI within the SUNY system is an investment in our students to expand their knowledge about what the future will bring

, emphasizing NY's leadership in responsible AI development.

The full Faculty Senate has approved the department, ensuring that UB is poised to become a national leader in AI that serves society's public good. Learn more about the department's vision and programs at the University at Buffalo official announcement and follow developments in AI across SUNY campuses through coverage of UB's AI initiatives.

Graduate students at the University at Buffalo (UB) have protested the use of Turnitin's AI detection software after several were falsely flagged for academic misconduct, leading to stress, reputational damage, and delayed graduations.

Kelsey Auman, a medical student at UB's School of Public Health, spearheaded a petition garnering over 1,200 signatures demanding the university disable Turnitin's AI detection feature and improve the appeals process.

Students argue that Turnitin's tool is unreliable, with false positive rates as high as 61%, disproportionately impacting marginalized groups such as non-native English speakers and neurodivergent students.

Auman highlighted the difficulty in disputing AI-generated writing accusations, stating,

“How do you prove a negative?”

despite providing extensive proof of original work such as browser history.

UB maintains that AI detection software is only one part of a thorough review process and affirms academic dishonesty decisions require additional evidence beyond software flags.

However, students criticize inconsistent application and the lack of transparency surrounding these tools. Similar concerns have prompted peer institutions like Vanderbilt and Michigan State to discontinue Turnitin's AI detection.

The petition calls for transparent, human-led academic integrity processes, emphasizing fairness and due process to prevent AI detection technology from jeopardizing student futures.

For more details on the protest and petition, see University at Buffalo Students Protest Use of AI Detection Tool, UB Students Call for End to AI Software Used by Some Faculty, and Disable Turnitin AI Detection at UB Petition.

Binghamton University is set to establish the Institute for AI and Society, supported by a $5 million state investment announced by Governor Kathy Hochul to enhance AI research and education across eight SUNY campuses.

This initiative leverages the power of Empire AI, a cutting-edge academic supercomputing consortium based at the University at Buffalo, enabling researchers to accelerate projects that address real-world challenges, from detecting antisemitism on social media to climate change and cybersecurity.

Associate Professor Jeremy Blackburn, director of the new institute, highlights that computing advances now reduce research timelines from decades to weeks. This collaboration also fosters interdisciplinary engagement across humanities, arts, and sciences, aimed at making New York a national leader in ethical AI development.

Governor Hochul emphasized,

“Investing in AI within the SUNY system is an investment in our students to expand their knowledge about what the future will bring. We are not just preparing students for AI – we're shaping how AI serves society.”

SUNY President Harvey Stenger added,

“By sharing resources across the state, we're going to solve real-world problems and create new opportunities in economic development and academic research.”

The Empire AI consortium includes prominent institutions such as Columbia University, Cornell, NYU, and RPI, demonstrating a broad commitment to responsible AI innovation.

For more details on the institute's launch and its ambitious agenda, visit Binghamton University's official announcement on the Institute for AI and Society, the Governor Kathy Hochul's press release on SUNY AI funding, and the comprehensive Central New York Business Journal's coverage of Binghamton University AI Institute.

Governor Kathy Hochul has announced a strategic $5 million investment over three years to transform Stony Brook University's Department of Technology and Society into the new Department of Technology, AI, and Society within the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences (CEAS).

This initiative aims to foster interdisciplinary research and education on AI applications addressing critical areas such as energy, environment, medicine, human health, technology, arts, and society, emphasizing ethics, equity, and justice.

The funding will support faculty hiring, expand graduate and undergraduate research, provide internships and fellowships, and enable acquisition of advanced AI technologies.

As part of this broader SUNY investment benefiting eight campuses, including Buffalo and Binghamton, the new department at Stony Brook will leverage collaborations across diverse fields like computer science, medicine, psychology, political science, and philosophy to lead responsible AI innovation.

Provost Carl W. Lejuez highlighted how the department is poised to become a

"first-choice destination for faculty and students who will lead the responsible shaping of the societal impact of artificial intelligence,"

while Governor Hochul emphasized that New York is shaping AI

"to serve society, ensuring it strengthens communities and our economy."

For further details, visit the official Stony Brook University announcement on AI investment, learn about the SUNY-wide AI initiative across eight campuses, or explore the department's faculty involvement invitation.

New York State has marked a major milestone in government technology leadership by appointing Shreya Amin as its first Chief Artificial Intelligence (AI) Officer, a groundbreaking role within the Office of Information Technology Services (ITS).

With over 17 years of experience in AI and data science - including her prior role as Chief Data and AI Scientist at Wellist - Amin is tasked with driving the state's AI strategy, overseeing the ethical deployment of AI technologies, and refining statewide policies like the Acceptable Use of Artificial Intelligence Technologies.

Her leadership aligns with Governor Kathy Hochul's ambitious Empire AI initiative by New York State Office of Information Technology Services, a $90 million public-private partnership fostering AI research, supercomputing infrastructure at SUNY Buffalo, and collaboration across major universities.

Amin's vision emphasizes transparency, equity, and human oversight to ensure AI strengthens public services and government operations. Although she recently stepped down, ITS continues to recruit promising candidates to sustain this strategic momentum.

As ITS expands its AI workforce and coordinates agency efforts to inventory and govern AI systems, New York positions itself as a leader in responsible AI innovation within the public sector.

ITS Chief Information Officer Dru Rai praised Amin's contributions, noting her impact in establishing frameworks that balance technological advancement with ethical safeguards.

For additional context on New York's evolving AI governance and oversight recommendations, see the New York State audit on artificial intelligence governance.

This new role and committed strategy showcase New York's determination to harness AI's transformative potential for the benefit of all its residents while setting a benchmark for other states.

More details are available on the New York State Office of Information Technology Services website.

University at Buffalo (UB) AI researchers emphasize that AI chatbots like ChatGPT function primarily as advanced text prediction tools rather than true search engines, often generating incomplete or inaccurate information.

Heidi Julien, a professor at UB's Graduate School of Education, highlights a crucial gap in digital literacy skills needed to critically evaluate chatbot outputs, underscoring that formal training is limited and policy-level intervention is necessary to embed digital literacy in early education.

Faculty voices at UB reflect varied approaches to ChatGPT use in classrooms, with autonomy given to instructors to set clear guidelines to maintain academic integrity.

Additionally, UB research on large language models (LLMs) explores their role as analytical tools across sectors, including urban planning and deepfake detection, revealing AI's capabilities and limitations.

Meanwhile, UB provides access to a broad range of AI research tools, such as Microsoft Copilot and Elicit, aimed at enhancing scholarly work while promoting ethical AI use.

These insights collectively stress the importance of digital literacy education and responsible AI integration to maximize benefits and mitigate risks as AI technologies become increasingly embedded in everyday tasks and academia.

For detailed perspectives, see UB's discussion on AI chatbots and digital literacy training at the University at Buffalo Graduate School of Education resources, UB faculty opinions on ChatGPT in education at UBNow's faculty and administrators' insights on ChatGPT in education, and a comprehensive list of AI tools available to UB affiliates at the University at Buffalo AI Research Tools Table.

The University at Buffalo (UB) and Florida Atlantic University (FAU) have partnered to establish a $2.1 million research center, funded by the U.S. Department of Defense's Air Force Research Laboratory, dedicated to advancing wireless communications and software-defined radio (SDR) technologies critical for national security and economic competitiveness.

This collaborative center of excellence focuses on developing advanced algorithms for secure, agile spectrum operations, building high-performance hardware solutions such as processors and FPGAs for multi-domain resilience, and implementing comprehensive workforce development programs from high school through doctoral levels to cultivate experts in wireless networking, AI, and autonomous systems.

UB leverages its world-class facilities, including the Structure for Outdoor Autonomy Research, and faculty expertise led by Principal Investigator Nicholas Mastronarde and Co-PI Zhangyu Guan.

At FAU, Principal Investigator Dimitris Pados and Co-PI George Sklivanitis bring leadership through the Center for Connected Autonomy and Artificial Intelligence (CA-AI), spearheading innovation in programmable wireless networks to address challenges like contested electromagnetic spectrum environments in military contexts.

This partnership has been championed by Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and aims to transform rigid legacy systems into agile, intelligent platforms capable of real-time spectrum optimization, interference avoidance, and secure communication supporting applications from defense UAVs to public safety and 5G networks.

As Zhangyu Guan emphasized,

“The benefits of software-defined radio and other emerging forms of wireless networking systems are immense... Ensures economic competitiveness, national security, global influence, and broader technological innovation in AI, autonomous systems, and the Internet of Things.”

Learn more about this initiative and the key investigators at University at Buffalo's wireless communications partnership, explore details of the FAU Center of Excellence at Florida Atlantic University's CA-AI DoD grant, and review the federal support behind the project at the UB official media release.

Buffalo State University hosted the “Augmented Human Intelligence in the Age of AI” workshop on April 19, 2025, as part of its commitment to fostering awareness and practical skills around artificial intelligence.

The event, held at the BSU Alumni Center, attracted 80 participants including students, faculty, and community members, featuring a keynote presentation and hands-on sessions focused on language models, prompt engineering, and AI applications in education and finance.

Spearheaded by faculty members such as Naila Catilo and Joaquin Carbonara, the workshop aimed to provide attendees with actionable insights into integrating AI ethically and effectively into their professional environments.

Provost Amitra Wall emphasized the importance of this initiative by stating,

“Learning how to use AI wisely is a critical skill ... understanding AI is no longer optional - it's essential.”

This event reflects Buffalo State's proactive approach to equipping its community with vital AI competencies while promoting dialogue on the ethical considerations surrounding AI technologies.

For more details on the workshop and related programming, visit Buffalo State's official event page at BSU's Augmented Human Intelligence Workshop and the broader Buffalo State Workshop Registration system.

To explore ongoing bioethics discussions connected with AI, the Romanell Center at the University at Buffalo offers a series of workshops, including topics on conscious AI, accessible at Romanell Center Workshop Series.

In a growing cybersecurity concern highlighted by the FBI, malicious actors have been using AI-generated deepfake voice messages and text campaigns since April 2025 to impersonate senior U.S. government officials.

This sophisticated "vishing" and "smishing" scheme targets current and former federal and state officials, as well as their contacts, aiming to build trust and gain access to personal and government accounts.

These attackers often lure victims through messages that request moving conversations to other platforms, followed by clicks on malicious links that compromise security and enable further impersonations.

The FBI cautions recipients to remain vigilant, urging independent verification of any unexpected communications claiming to be from high-level officials, and warns that technology now allows scammers to replicate voices nearly indistinguishable from the real individuals.

The threat is compounded by deepfake incidents involving figures like Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was impersonated to contact foreign ministers and U.S. officials, alongside other cases involving top White House staff.

Experts underscore the challenge of detecting these AI-fueled deceptions and recommend multi-factor authentication, skepticism of unsolicited links, and using AI-powered detection tools like Bitdefender's Digital Identity Protection.

As deepfake technology evolves rapidly, industry leaders advocate for stronger regulations and digital literacy to combat misuse. For detailed FBI guidelines and the evolving context of these AI-driven scams, read the full advisories from the FBI's May 2025 public warning on AI deepfake threats, the official Internet Crime Complaint Center alert on AI-based fraud, and an in-depth report by the Associated Press about AI deepfakes' national security risks.

Graduate students at the University at Buffalo (UB) are actively protesting the use of Turnitin's AI detection software, raising serious concerns about false accusations of academic misconduct.

Led by Kelsey Auman of the School of Public Health, the students argue that the software has flagged their original work as AI-generated, despite their insistence on submitting genuine assignments.

These claims are supported by a petition with over 1,100 signatures urging UB to disable Turnitin and improve its student appeals process. Auman highlighted the intensive stress and potential career setbacks caused by prolonged investigations, noting,

“We're looking for jobs and going out into the real world so it can have serious consequences.”

UB maintains that it does not solely rely on the AI tool for adjudications and that all cases require additional evidence beyond the software's findings.

Nonetheless, some students report inconsistent application of the tool across faculty and delayed notifications of flagged content, raising transparency and fairness issues.

Notably, several other prominent universities, including Vanderbilt and Michigan State, have abandoned Turnitin due to concerns about its reliability. In response to the wider debate on AI detection in academia, some Buffalo students are preemptively using AI detectors themselves to avoid wrongful accusations and better understand flagged patterns.

The situation underscores a broader challenge in balancing academic integrity with emerging AI technologies, emphasizing a need for clearer policies and more nuanced tools.

For a detailed account, see the original University at Buffalo Students Protest Use of AI Detection Tool, the UB students call for end to AI software used to check academic work, and coverage on Students push back on use of AI tool by UB faculty.

Buffalo, NY is cementing its strategic role in shaping the future of artificial intelligence by balancing innovation, ethics, and education through significant state investments and academic initiatives.

Governor Kathy Hochul has allocated $5 million to establish new Departments of AI and Society across eight SUNY campuses, including the University at Buffalo (UB), which plans to launch its own interdisciplinary department focused on AI's societal impacts this fall.

This initiative fosters inclusive AI research and ethical considerations, preparing students to use AI responsibly across diverse fields such as health, public policy, and the arts.

Complementing this is the $400 million Empire AI Consortium, headquartered at UB, which pools public and private resources to advance AI research, education, and job creation statewide.

As UB's Dean Kemper Lewis emphasizes, the new department will expand scholarship to harness AI for community and economic strengthening. Meanwhile, challenges persist, such as student protests against unfair AI detection tools and the rising legal risks faced by local businesses adopting AI technologies.

Stakeholders across academia and government agree that Buffalo's approach exemplifies a forward-thinking model that integrates cutting-edge research with social responsibility.

For those eager to build AI skills aligned with these values, educational programs like Nucamp's AI Essentials for Work and Solo AI Tech Entrepreneur bootcamps offer practical training and entrepreneurial pathways in AI application and business development.

By advancing robust ethical frameworks alongside technical expertise, Buffalo is positioning itself as a national leader in AI innovation that benefits society broadly.

Learn more about the SUNY AI and Society initiative, the University at Buffalo's new AI department, and the Empire AI Consortium funding and partnerships that fuel this transformative ecosystem.