The University at Albany's Artificial Intelligence Supercomputing Initiative is among the education projects funded in the New York state budget.

The project, estimated to cost $75 million, will expand the artificial intelligence resources available in the area. Once completed, the university expects all students, no matter their major, to use AI in their daily studies.

“We think with this cluster coming here and this focus in AI, we will be teaching our undergraduate students AI from the first year,” said Kesh Kesavadas, vice president for research and economic development at UAlbany.

The idea is for students in all programs to get a chance to work with artificial intelligence, whether it be cybersecurity or music composition, and to give them an opportunity that has not been available.

“For the student, it’s amazing because part of the ethos is really to give students experimental learning, so by having the technology on campus, students are really going to get their hands dirty,” said Benjamin Yankson, an associate professor.

The initiative will also expand research opportunities. Those at UAlbany said the technology can be used to explore issues such as health care, climate change and disaster relief.

“Everything from engineering to practical applications to moral and social justices. We have researchers across those lines looking at artificial intelligence, so it’s not just the hardware and software that you see here,” said DeeDee Bennett Gayle, an associate professor.

Those at UAlbany said the possibilities are endless, and the technology will put the Capital Region in the center of developing solutions to worldly issues.

“I joke, I say, 'A for Albany, A for AI.' We’ll be like one of the leaders in the world in that space, and it will be great for the state of New York as well,” said Kesavadas.