Latest stories, updates, and announcements that highlight the people, research, and progress of AI throughout Cornell.

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AI Headlines from Around the University

Project to rebuild trust in AI era lands Laude’s $10M ‘moonshot’ award

A $10 million “moonshot” grant from Laude Institute will help Cornell researchers realize the potential of artificial intelligence, while giving online communities control over AI’s role.

New initiative will explore AI’s role in society, humanities

With AI transforming how societies function, a new program in the College of Arts and Sciences aims to meet the urgent need to understand AI’s implications for culture, governance, ethics, communication, creativity, labor and social organization.

New CoPAIR program connects Cornell researchers with AI tools, training and community

The new Communities of Practice for AI-enabled Research (CoPAIR) program gives researchers access to emerging AI tools, hands-on training and collaborative communities where they can share best practices, develop disciplinary norms for appropriate AI use and non-use, and evaluate new tools for research. 

‘A seat at the table’: Cornell expands access to multiple AI tools for faculty, staff, students

Most faculty, staff and students will have free access to a range of AI platforms – an effort to level the playing field, spur exploration and reduce the costs and vulnerabilities of individual consumer licenses.

Cute robots, historical chatbots: AI in the classroom grows more sophisticated

Instructors across Cornell are working to strike a balance in the classroom – using AI as a teaching tool but also making choices to prevent its use and preserve the learning experience.

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Building a farm data and analytics platform that keeps things private

February 12, 2026

The Cornell Agricultural Systems Testbed and Demonstration Site is working with the Weatherspoon lab in computer science to create a data pipeline and analytics platform that will allow farmers to aggregate their data for informed decision-making. At the same time, the researchers are ensuring that every farmer’s data will be kept private.

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Robotic medical crash cart eases workload for healthcare teams

February 10, 2026

Researchers have unveiled a robotic crash cart that uses verbal and visual cues to help healthcare teams access the right tools — fast. 

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11 new researchers become Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellows

February 6, 2026

The new cohort will investigate the use of AI to advance exploration in science, technology and engineering. 

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Generative AI critical literacy pilot launched this spring

February 3, 2026

Since ChatGPT burst onto the scene, higher education has been grappling with the impact of Generative AI on research, teaching, learning, and work. In the Spring of 2025, Cornell University Library and the Center for Teaching Innovation began discussions around how to address AI literacy, which is the understanding, use, and critical evaluation of artificial intelligence.

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Four on faculty to receive DOE early-career grants

February 3, 2026

Four Cornell faculty members are among 99 researchers across the U.S. who have been awarded grants by the U.S. Department of Energy as part of its Office of Science Early Career Research Program.

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Three early-career professors win NSF development awards

January 29, 2026

Cornell researchers studying microplastics, robotics and machine learning are recent recipients of National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Awards.

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Thorsten Joachims named vice provost for AI strategy

January 27, 2026

Thorsten Joachims has been named vice provost for artificial intelligence strategy, a newly created position intended to bolster the Cornell AI Initiative. This new position further expands Cornell’s universitywide effort to advance leadership in research and education in AI, while creating, applying and evaluating AI as a tool across the university – from classrooms and laboratories to clinics and university processes. His appointment took effect Jan. 1.

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Wilkens receives Schmidt Sciences award for humanities research

January 20, 2026

A research group led by Matthew Wilkens, associate professor of information science in the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science, is the recent recipient of a Schmidt Sciences award to leverage AI in the humanities to unlock new insights in human history and culture.

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MathGPT founders say site boosts students’ skills, confidence

January 16, 2026

The founders of MathGPT are featured on the January episode of the Startup Cornell podcast.