AI + Research
At Cornell, artificial intelligence is both a subject of inquiry — ranging from algorithms and machine learning to ethics and human-ai interaction — and a tool that advances how we conduct research.
AI research at Cornell is deeply interdisciplinary, combining technical innovation with human-centered insight.
Across campuses and departments, researchers are pushing the boundaries of AI and machine learning. Cornell also draws on its strengths in the social sciences to shape, investigate, and apply AI while examining its broader societal impact.
Advancing AI Research
Cornell’s vision for AI tightly integrates the development of algorithmic capabilities with an understanding of the interplay of AI with people, institutions, and real-world applications. This includes supporting research that ranges from core AI methods to human-AI interaction, as well as using AI to accelerate discovery across disciplines.
Cornell is committed to building upon its existing leadership in Artificial Intelligence (AI) to shape and drive the development and practice of AI for a sustainable future. In particular, we envision an AI that is designed to engage with humans, and that sustainably serves humans and humanity.”
AI Powers New Discoveries
Cornell researchers are developing AI to accelerate discoveries and to enable new approaches in sustainable agriculture, nutrition, materials science, precision medicine, and other fields where complex challenges demand new analytical and predictive tools. Collaboration is crucial when exploring AI for scientific discovery, and the initiative fosters new cross-campus collaborations that bring together diverse expertise.
The AI Initiative also supports the coordination of Cornell’s research infrastructure — such as computing resources — and the policy frameworks needed to advance responsible, high-impact AI research. By treating AI as both an area of study and a catalyst for innovation, Cornell empowers researchers to make breakthroughs that benefit science, society, and the world.
Cornell is a founding member of Empire AI, a consortium of 10 New York state institutions organized to promote responsible research and development, create jobs, and unlock AI opportunities focused on public good.
With more than $400 million in public and private investment, Empire AI aims to give researchers, public organizations, and small companies the opportunity to develop AI tools for non-corporate-focused interests in New York.
The consortium created a shared AI computing facility in upstate New York, where Cornell and partners can leverage state-of-the-art computing power to help shape the future of AI.
Cornell Supported AI Tools
Generative AI (GenAI) can accelerate learning, creativity, and research — but only when used responsibly. Cornell‑supported GenAI tools are vetted for data privacy, security, and accessibility, ensuring your work stays protected and aligned with university standards.
Using approved tools isn’t just a technical preference. These platforms safeguard sensitive information, support ethical practice, and strengthen trust across our community.
Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat
(For web browsers)
This universitywide “private” version of ChatGPT and DALL-E enables faculty, staff, and students who are 18 years of age or older to experiment with GenAI text, image, and coding tools without storing the person’s login and chat data or using that data to train the large language models.
Copilot in Windows
Copilot in Windows
(Available on some Cornell computers)
Copilot in Windows has been integrated into the Windows 11 operating system. It can help answer questions, check the weather, or adjust Windows settings, like turning on dark mode or snapping windows side by side. It will also answer questions in the same way that Copilot Enterprise will.
Adobe Firefly
(Available with an Adobe license)
Firefly allows you to generate images from text, then manipulate and edit them. Coming soon: generative voice and video content.
Zoom AI Companion
The Zoom AI Companion gives hosts and participants shareable meeting summaries and next-steps lists, “highlight reels” in recordings, catch-up options for people joining a meeting late, and more. Currently, the university is evaluating security and privacy considerations for these new features.
Guidelines and Best Practices
Cornell’s guidelines seek to balance the exciting new possibilities offered by these tools with awareness of their limitations and the need for rigorous attention to accuracy, intellectual property, security, privacy, and ethical issues. These guidelines are upheld by existing university policies.
When exploring AI tools, it is important to make informed choices about which tools we use and whether they provide privacy and protection of an individual’s personal information and institutional data. Free AI tools that are not offered by Cornell do not provide any material protection of data and should not be used to share or process academic or administrative information.
Accountability
You are accountable for your work, regardless of the tools you use to produce it. When using GenAI tools, always verify the information, check for errors and biases, and exercise caution to avoid copyright infringement. GenAI excels at applying predictions and patterns to create new content, but since it cannot understand what it produces, the results are sometimes misleading, outdated, or false.
Confidentiality and Privacy
If you are using public GenAI tools, you cannot enter any Cornell information — or another person’s information — that is confidential, proprietary, subject to federal or state regulations, or otherwise considered sensitive or restricted. Any information you provide to public GenAI tools is considered public and may be stored and used by anyone else.
As noted in the University Privacy Statement, Cornell strives to honor the Privacy Principles: Notice, Choice, Accountability for Onward Transfer, Security, Data Integrity and Purpose Limitation, Access, and Recourse.
Use for Research
The widespread availability of GenAI tools offers new opportunities for creativity and efficiency and, as with any new tool, depends on humans for responsible and ethical deployment in research and society. In Fall 2023, the Cornell’s taskforce on the use of GenAI in research produced “The GenAI in Academic Research: Perspectives and Cultural Norms” report covering the various stages of the research process in which many faculty, staff, and students participate daily. The report provides guidance for thoughtful use of GenAI in research, identifying opportunities as well as risks and duties in both the development and use of these tools in academic research that aspires to have positive societal impact.
Read the Cornell Chronicle story about the report: Task force offers guidance to researchers on use of AI
Read the full committee report: Web: Generative AI in Academic Research: Perspectives and Cultural Norms; PDF: Generative AI in Academic Research: Perspectives and Cultural Norms
Tools and Resources
Effective Prompts
Crafting an effective prompt is not the same as searching the web. Here are some tools to improve your prompting skills.
AI Innovation Lab
A collaborative environment for staff (alongside students and faculty) to experiment with the use of GenAI on real-world projects. Offers sessions, training, and semester-long initiatives open to staff involvement.
AI Exploration Series
AI Exploration Series (via Zoom)
Join AI Assistant Program Director Ayham Boucher for the debut of a bi-weekly series for Cornell students, faculty, and staff who want to know more about all things AI. The 30-minute workshop is held over Zoom at 2 p.m. ET.
AI Events
See our events calendar.
GenAI at Cornell on Teams
Tools Under Review
Cornell is actively assessing additional GenAI tools to determine which meet our standards for privacy, security, accessibility, and responsible use. Each platform undergoes careful review to ensure it protects sensitive information, supports academic integrity, and aligns with the university’s values.
Github Copilot
GitHub Copilot is an AI-powered pair programmer developed by GitHub (owned by Microsoft) in collaboration with OpenAI. It assists developers by providing autocompletions and code suggestions while they write code.
Microsoft 365 Copilot
Microsoft 365 Copilot integrates AI capabilities into various Microsoft 365 applications including Word, Excel, Outlook, OneNote, Teams, SharePoint, and more. The university is evaluating the cost, privacy, security, licensing requirements, and responsible use of this service.
Google Gemini
AI integration with Google Workspace, including Deep Research and Gems. The university is evaluating the privacy, security, licensing, potential cost impacts, and responsible use.
Initiatives and Institutes
Cornell’s many initiatives and institutes are driving the development and ethical advancement of artificial intelligence, reflecting the university’s commitment to leading in this rapidly evolving field.