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

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AI’s Impact on Professional Work to be Examined by CAROW Yang-Tan Incubator Initiative
September 4, 2026
Much attention has been given to artificial intelligence displacing lower-skilled workers, but less is known about AI’s impact on professional work in high-skill fields, such as legal, finance, journalism and design, according to ILR Professor Sarosh Kuruvilla.

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The Science Behind the Scroll: Donghui Li’s Path from Cornell Tech to TikTok
September 3, 2026
When a user discovers TikTok through an ad, a friend’s recommendation, or a chance scroll through the app store, it might feel like a simple moment. For Cornell Tech alumna Donghui Li, though, it’s a complex data problem hiding in plain sight — and solving it at global scale is what drives her.

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Cornell leads project putting robots to work in US orchards
September 3, 2026
A Cornell-led research project is developing robots that can perform labor-intensive orchard operations; it’s supported by a four-year, $7.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Specialty Crop Research Initiative.

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Model Helps Scientists Build Better Protein-Degrading Therapies
September 1, 2026
A team of Weill Cornell Medicine investigators has developed a computer model that will help scientists more efficiently develop protein-destroying therapies, a newer type of treatment that is particularly promising for cancer. The study was published July 13 in Nature Communications.

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What happened when we put AI to work?
August 28, 2026
Thirty participants from 23 units across eight colleges gathered in early August to explore what an AI-enabled future of software development might look like at Cornell. They expected to share tools, compare approaches, and test new ideas. Instead, many left talking about something else entirely: people.

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Campaign closes with record support for students and research
August 27, 2026
Cornell’s To Do the Greatest Good campaign surpassed its goal of raising more than $5 billion and engaging more than 200,000 alumni – achievements that will enhance opportunities for students and accelerate critical faculty research.

Via: Ars Technica
How Much of a Problem Is AI’s Water Use?
August 27, 2026
Fengqi You, energy systems expert at Cornell University, discusses methods to reduce AI data centers’ water use.

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Two Undergrads Are Using AI to Help Students Learn Calc and More
August 27, 2026
The Class of ’26 computer science majors are currently on leave to continue building their successful startup, MathGPT.

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‘Hitting dead ends and rethinking everything’ – BURE summer scholars explore research life
August 26, 2026
This summer, 60 undergraduates participated in the Bowers Undergraduate Research Experience, a 10-week, paid program where undergraduate students do real-world research alongside Bowers faculty.
