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By Grace Stanley

A team of researchers from Cornell Tech is reimagining how technology can support users with speech disabilities – not just in functional speech, but also in making real-time jokes during conversations.

The research explores how artificial intelligence interfaces can help users of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) technology deliver witty remarks while talking with others – a way of communicating that’s often made impossible by the slow pace of traditional AAC systems.

“Humor is a crucial form of social interaction and is usually taken as a trivial thing. But for someone with a speech impairment, it is not trivial to match the timing of the conversation,” said the paper’s lead author, Cornell Tech Ph.D. student Tobias Weinberg, who lost his ability to speak at 15 and now uses AAC technology. “Losing my ability to speak from one month to the next, I had to learn to reshape my humor to this new form of communication. This research tries to channel that experience.”

Read more at the Cornell Chronicle.

Grace Stanley is a staff writer-editor for Cornell Tech.

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By Grace Stanley

With the development of AI writing assistants like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, large language models (LLMs) are now used in various writing professions to generate ideas and work more efficiently.

But are there negative associations or potential professional backlash for writers wrongfully (or rightfully) suspected of using AI? Does this suspicion vary based on the writer’s race, gender or nationality?

A new study by researchers at Cornell Tech and the University of Pennsylvania shows freelance writers who are suspected of using AI have worse evaluations and hiring outcomes. Freelancers whose profiles suggested they had East Asian identities were more likely to be suspected of using AI than profiles of white Americans. And men were more likely to be suspected of using AI than women.

Read more at the Cornell Chronicle.

Grace Stanley is a staff writer-editor for Cornell Tech.

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By Grace Stanley

Four Cornell Tech student teams received $100,000 each from Cornell during Cornell Tech’s annual Startup Awards competition May 16 on the New York City campus. The winning companies are CreditQuant AI, gymii.ai, Polyrook and SAIL.

Around 1,000 students, university leaders, entrepreneurs and tech executives gathered to hear the teams pitch ideas developed in Cornell Tech’s Studio program. The startups spanned industries from AI to digital health, law, finance and entertainment.

The Startup Awards are a capstone of the Studio curriculum, a critical component of the master’s degree program. In their final semester, students can choose to form teams and enroll in Startup Studio, where they develop ideas and prototypes for a startup in an academic setting.

Eleven teams competed for the $100,000 investment, studio space and ongoing mentorship to transform their pre-seed stage companies into thriving businesses in New York City. Judges included Andrew Ross Sorkin ’99, New York Times columnist, author, producer and co-anchor of CNBC’s Squawk Box, who announced the winners.

  • CreditQuant AI, an AI commercial credit risk tool that can parse financials, calculate risk ratios, and draft credit memos for faster, sharper lending decisions, founded by master’s student Adam Liu, MBA ‘25. CreditQuant AI achieves higher precision in risk assessment through advanced historical data analysis, reducing underwriting time and saving costs. The tool computes essential financial and credit risk metrics across liquidity, leverage, profitability, margins, and more. It serves commercial banks, credit unions, private credit funds, and fintech lenders alike.
  • gymii.ai, a next-gen nutrition tracking app where users can instantly analyze meals, explore a vibrant social feed, discover fun facts, and compete in streaks, founded by master’s students Selina Li, Computer Science ‘25, Zach Zhong, Computer Science ‘25, and Alex Taic, MBA ‘25. Users can take a picture or video of a meal and get a breakdown of calories, macros, and portion sizes. The app combines vision language models with internet-scale knowledge and trusted nutrition databases to deliver comprehensive nutritional information, even for complex dishes. The app launched with 800+ users and was endorsed by nine pro athletes and Olympians.
  • Polyrook, a solution that leverages AI to generate fully customizable 3D environments for games and films, enabling creators to build and iterate immersive worlds in seconds, founded by master’s students Zachary Decker, Computer Science ‘25, and Jeremy Yanyang Lu, Computer Science ‘25. On Polyrook, users can create assets from text or images, configure them to different styles, textures, and themes, and alter the layout of generated 3D scenes. Polyrook aims to make 3D creation faster and less expensive for creators, whether they are indie game developers or Hollywood studios.
  • SAIL, an AI-native trade compliance product that helps track tariffs in an era of rapidly shifting trade policy, founded by master’s students Chansam Kim, MBA ‘25, Olivia Mei, Computer Science ‘25, William J. Reid, Health Tech ‘25, and Salik Tehami, MBA ‘25. SAIL automates Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) classification, duty optimization, and regulatory monitoring. The product strives to transform manual, error-prone processes into a seamless, audit-ready workflow.

A runner-up was also selected: Reforma, an AI personal trainer for boutique fitness that delivers personalized form correction and performance tracking using computer vision, founded by master’s student Courtney Clapper, MBA ‘25. Although Reforma will not receive investment funding, the team will receive office space and mentorship through Cornell Tech’s Runway Program.

“It has been incredible to watch our students collaborate to create innovative solutions addressing real-world challenges across a wide variety of fields,” said Greg Morrisett,  the Jack and Rilla Neafsey Dean and Vice Provost of Cornell Tech, also a member of the jury. “This annual event not only celebrates these students’ achievements, but also our culture of creativity as well as our tangible impact. I am confident that this year’s winners will make significant contributions to New York City and the world.”

The Studio program is led by Chief Practice Officer Josh Hartmann and Startup Studio instructors Jenny Fielding, Sam Dix and Alberto Escarlate, who all served on the jury.

In addition to Sorkin, Morrisett, Hartmann, Dix, Escarlate, and Fielding, this year’s panel of judges included Momo Bi, partner, Watershed Ventures; Amanda Eilian, co-founder and partner, __able; Fernando Gómez-Baquero, director of Runway and Spinouts, Jacobs Institute and Cornell Tech; Howard Morgan Ph.D. ’68, chairman, B-Capital Group, chairman, Cornell Tech Council, and co-vice chair, Cornell University Board of Trustees; and Jason Scott, founder and managing partner, Five Two Five. Fielding is co-founder and managing partner of Everywhere Ventures; Dix is founder of aThereThere; and Escarlate is co-founder/CTO of Tough Day.

“Watching students grow from pitching rough concepts to leading real companies is one of the most rewarding parts of this program. These teams are ready to scale their visions into lasting ventures,” said Hartmann. “The companies launched here go beyond the classroom, creating jobs, attracting investment and helping people live better lives.”

The Startup Awards are a launchpad for the next generation of tech leaders poised to make a significant impact both in New York City and beyond, Hartmann said. A total of 61 companies have received the award.

Overall, Cornell Tech – and through Startup Studio and the Runway Startup Postdocs program at the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute – has launched nearly 120 companies, which have generated a collective valuation of more than $700 million. Many have chosen to stay locally post-graduation, creating over 500 jobs in New York City since the programs began.

Other finalists that competed for this year’s Startup Awards included Arcta, Fixware, Livinit, MagNet Agents, Occazio, and Prinx.

About Cornell Tech

Cornell Tech is Cornell University’s state-of-the-art campus in New York City that develops leaders and technologies for the AI era through foundational and applied research, graduate education, and new ventures. Located on Roosevelt Island, the growing campus was founded in partnership with the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and in close collaboration with the NYC Economic Development Corporation after Cornell won a worldwide competition initiated by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s administration to create an applied sciences campus in New York City. More than 1,000 Cornell students are now educated annually on the campus, including 700 in Cornell Tech programs. Since opening in 2012, nearly 120 new companies have spun out from startup programs at Cornell Tech, and 95 percent of them are based in New York City. Cornell Tech continues to have a transformative economic impact on the region’s tech sector.

Update June 24, 2025: After the startup awards presentation, Polyrook, one of the named winners, had to decline the award due to a status change post event that affected its eligibility.

Grace Stanley is a staff writer-editor for Cornell Tech.

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By Grace Stanley

People with disabilities experience high levels of harassment online, including microaggressions and slurs. However, social media platforms frequently fail to address reports of disability-based harassment and offer only limited tools that simply hide hateful content.

New Cornell research reveals that social media users with disabilities prefer more personalized content moderation powered by AI systems that not only hide harmful content but also summarize or categorize it by the specific type of hate expressed.

“Our work showed that indicating the type of content – whether it associates disability with inability, promotes eugenicist ideas, and so on – supported transparency and trust, and increased user agency,” said the paper’s co-author, Shiri Azenkot, associate professor at Cornell Tech. She is also an associate professor at the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute and at the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science.

Read more at the Cornell Chronicle.

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Cornell Tech leadership, alongside elected officials, faculty, students, staff, and the Roosevelt Island community, hosted an official ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the campus’s new MakerLAB on May 2.

The MakerLAB facility, now located on the first floor of Cornell Tech’s Tata Innovation Center, serves as an accessible production hub for Cornell Tech students and faculty to bring their ideas to life. From 3D printing prototypes of medical devices to designing sustainable buildings and communities, the infrastructure allows startups to refine their products, students to gain hands-on experience creating real solutions to common problems, and faculty to advance their research.

Special guests included Congressman Jerry Nadler, New York City Council Member Julie Menin, New York City Economic Development Corporation Head of Innovation Jon Schulhof, and Queens Deputy Borough President Ebony Young. All of these leaders visited the campus to see how the student research is connected to the booming New York City tech ecosystem, as well as the capabilities of the facility, which include:

  • A wood shop designated for large-scale prototyping needs and assembly that requires power tools.
  • A laser room with cutting and engraving equipment for precision fabrication.
  • An electronics lab containing tools and components for electronics prototyping and development.

“The MakerLAB embodies Cornell Tech’s mission of driving new ventures and economic growth by advancing applied research,” said Greg Morrisett, Jack and Rilla Neafsey Dean and Vice Provost at Cornell Tech. “Expanding the bridge between the academic and business communities, this facility is equipped for everyone in the Cornell network — whether they’re a graduate student in electrical engineering developing innovative hardware, an MBA student launching a startup, or a Weill Cornell Medical student on the brink of introducing a new healthtech product to market. The Cornell Tech community is developing and advancing solutions that serve and benefit our community here in New York and across the country.”

The MakerLAB is part of a recent 15,000-square-foot activation within the Tata Innovation Center featured during the event. The Bridge, a collaborative workspace for entrepreneurs and innovators that opened in February, brings much-needed office space to Roosevelt Island. Companies from within the Cornell and New York City tech ecosystems have been quickly moving in, recognizing the benefit of the state-of-the-art workspace and location, as well as being immersed in Cornell Tech’s creative and innovative setting. The Bridge is already at 40 percent of its capacity and includes several startups founded by Cornell Tech alumni.

“At Cornell Tech, we’re creating an environment where ideas collide and partnerships thrive,” said Niti Parikh, Director, Learning Spaces and MakerLABs at Cornell Tech. “New York City, its nonprofits, and its creative thinkers offer a rich network for our students and collaborators to contribute to the macro-goals of the city. MakerLAB and The Bridge are more than just spaces at Cornell Tech. They support the campus mission as a catalyst fueling the engine of innovation, technology, and economic growth in New York.”

***

What people are saying:

Andrew Kimball, President and CEO of the New York City Economic Development Council, said, “The opening of Cornell Tech’s MakerLAB marks a significant milestone in fostering cutting-edge innovation and nurturing the next generation of tech professionals here in New York City. This accessible space will be a hub where creativity, entrepreneurship, and learning will converge. We look forward to continuing to work with our partners at Cornell Tech to drive long-term economic benefits, spark new innovation, and create equitable career pathways to power the City’s thriving tech ecosystem.”

U.S. Congressman Jerry Nadler said, “The opening of the MakerLAB at the Tata Innovation Center is an exciting next step for Cornell Tech and also for New York City as it furthers its place as a world-class hub of innovation and development. By providing students, faculty, and entrepreneurs with prototyping tools and resources, the MakerLAB brings creative solutions to life – enabling the initial seed of an idea to be brought to reality as a refined prototype that is ready to be launched to production and market. I eagerly anticipate the novel products and research that will be incubated in this groundbreaking space.”

NYS Senator Liz Kreuger said, “The MakerLAB at Cornell Tech brings a unique and needed space for creative invention and new opportunities for research, collaboration, and economic growth to NYC. It offers a one-of-a-kind exceptional space, tools, and resources for experimentation and innovation — a tremendous benefit and boost for NYC. Kudos to the team at Cornell Tech for making it happen!”

New York City Council Member Julie Menin said, “Cornell Tech’s MakerLAB enables students, faculty, and the larger campus community to test prototypes from an initial sketch to refined products. Cornell Tech has always been a space of innovation in the tech sector, and this facility will be critical in helping the students of today and the inventors of tomorrow. This significant investment provides the tools needed to make product ideas become a reality and will further grow the tech startup industry in New York City.”

NYS Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright said, “The MakerLAB will enable students to leverage design research and transform ideas into impactful projects that will benefit communities across our state and nation. I’m proud of our continuing collaboration with Dean and Vice Provost Greg Morrisett and Cornell Tech. During the pandemic’s direst days, Cornell Tech students designed and 3D-printed face shields, which I delivered to health workers at Coler Hospital, a testament to the campus’s role as an invaluable, service-oriented stakeholder on Roosevelt Island. Today’s launch signals Cornell Tech’s ongoing commitment to deploying applied sciences in the service of public health, job creation, and economic growth.”

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards said, “The work of transforming Queens and New York City into the global leader in technology and innovation must be holistic in nature. That means investing in our future tech ecosystem just as much as we are in our current tech climate, and that’s exactly what’s being done at Cornell Tech with the launch of its new MakerLAB. As we put forth initiatives in The World’s Borough, like the creation of the Global Tech and Innovation Center and the Queens Tech and Innovation Challenge, we must do so working hand-in-hand with our tech educators to create the pipeline between our communities and the innovation sphere. With the MakerLAB, that pipeline is alive and well.”

Queens Chamber of Commerce President Tom Grech said, “As Queens’ tech sector continues to grow and thrive, having a world-class facility like this just across the river will create new opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and entrepreneurship. The MakerLAB will help students, startups, and researchers turn bold ideas into real-world solutions. We congratulate our friends at Cornell Tech, who have been an instrumental partner to the Queens Chamber in our efforts to further establish our borough and our city as a global hub for technology and innovation.”

About Cornell Tech
Cornell Tech is Cornell University’s state-of-the-art campus in New York City that develops leaders and technologies for the AI era through foundational and applied research, graduate education, and new ventures. Located on Roosevelt Island, the growing campus was founded in partnership with the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and in close collaboration with the NYC Economic Development Corporation after Cornell won a worldwide competition initiated by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s administration to create an applied sciences campus in New York City. More than 1,000 Cornell students are now educated annually on the campus, including 700 in Cornell Tech programs. Since opening in 2012, nearly 120 new companies have spun out from startup programs at Cornell Tech, and 95 percent of them are based in New York City. Cornell Tech continues to have a transformative economic impact on the region’s tech sector.

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By Patricia Waldron

For delivery robots, not all sidewalks are created equal – some are uneven or clogged with people and bus shelters – so researchers at Cornell Tech developed a “robotability score” and rated every street in New York City on how hospitable it would be to robots.

Their rating system is the first of its kind, researchers said, and may help urban planners and robotics companies plan for future robot deployments that won’t disrupt existing sidewalk environments.

“I don’t know that everybody wants robots in their neighborhood, but if they do, the robotability score can help them think about, what are the features that we’ve built in to help welcome robots?” said senior author Wendy Ju, associate professor of information science at Cornell Tech, the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science and the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute, and the multicollege Department of Design Tech. “We’re just trying to make those things a little bit more visible.”

Read more at the Cornell Chronicle.

Patricia Waldron is a writer for the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science.

 

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To mark the end of this academic year, Cornell Tech will host a series of events in May to celebrate its campus culture. The campus, based in New York City, inspires successful startups and fosters interdisciplinary collaboration by bringing together scholars and experts in engineering, law, business, design, health, urban tech, media, and art.

From startup pitches and design exhibitions to inspiring panel discussions and a special tour in partnership with NYCxDESIGN, these events will highlight the groundbreaking work of Cornell Tech students and faculty. The events will provide a unique opportunity to engage with cutting-edge innovations shaping the future of various industries.

The series of events will include the 13th annual Startup Awards + Open Studio event on May 16. The event is Cornell’s largest, ending with the announcement of up to five $100,000 investment awards to student team winners, along with studio space and ongoing mentorship on campus.

“Cornell Tech looks forward to opportunities for engaging guests from across the city and around the world to experience what our unique campus is all about,” said Greg Morrisett, Jack and Rilla Neafsey Dean and Vice Provost at Cornell Tech. “Each event allows visitors to experience firsthand the innovative work of our students and faculty. We promise all who attend will leave impressed and inspired by what is happening on our campus.”

Since the Startup Awards began in 2015, 42 student teams have received this award from Cornell. This year, Cornell alumnus Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times columnist, author, producer, and co-anchor of CNBC’s Squawk Box, will serve as a member of the jury and will announce this year’s winning startup teams. He is also the co-creator of the drama “Billions.”

Below is a list of all of this year’s events. All events will take place this May on the Roosevelt Island campus and are open to the public (unless otherwise noted).

Cornell Tech

Roosevelt Island

2 West Loop Road

New York, NY 10044

Getting to Roosevelt Island is easy, and many options exist — by car, bus, train, air, or boat! Visitors can drive over the Roosevelt Island bridge from 36th Avenue in Queens or take public transportation via the New York City subway (F train to Roosevelt Island), the Roosevelt Island Tram (from 59th Street on the East Side of Manhattan), the Q102 bus from Long Island City or Astoria, Queens, or the ferry (Astoria route).

Cornell Tech Ventures: From Startups to Exits

Date: Thursday, May 1 (6:00 – 8:00 p.m.)
Tata Innovation Center, Room 591

Cornell Tech will host an evening of entrepreneurial insight at the Tata Innovation Center on Roosevelt Island, with an engaging discussion about navigating the complexities of startup exits. The event will feature entrepreneurs — alumni, Runway postdocs, and friends of Cornell Tech — who will delve into the nuances of building scalable ventures, executing exit strategies, and envisioning what comes after the exit. Moderated by Fernando Gómez-Baquero, director of Runway and Spinouts at Cornell Tech and the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute, the panel will explore the journey from launching a startup to the successful exit. The panel will feature real-world stories and strategic advice from seasoned founders and technology leaders.

Panelists:

  • Dr. Fernando Gómez-Baquero, Director of Runway and Spinouts, Cornell Tech
  • Tim Delisle ‘17, Founder and CEO, Fiveonefour; Founder, Datalogue (acquired by Nike)
  • Dr. Shmuel Kliger, Founder, Causely; Founder, Turbonomic (acquired by IBM)
  • Chris Kruger ‘19, Co-Founder, JARS AI; Co-founder, Otari (acquired by Peloton)
  • Dr. Tomer Morad, In-Field Software Group Lead at the Hardware Analytics and Test (HAT) business unit at Synopsys; Co-founder, Concertio (acquired by Synopsys)
  • Beth Xie, Director of New Technology Opportunities, Standard Industries; Co-founder and CEO, TaggPic (acquired by Google)

 

Registration required.

Cornell Tech MakerLAB Opening Celebration

Date: Friday, May 2 (10:00 – 11:30 a.m.)
Tata Innovation Center, First Floor MakerLAB

Join the Cornell Tech community and special guests for a breakfast celebration to mark the official opening of Cornell Tech’s impressive new MakerLAB on the first floor of the Tata Innovation Center. Enjoy demos by students, a tour led by the MakerLAB Director Niti Parikh, and a sneak peek of The Bridge — Cornell Tech’s new workspace for entrepreneurs.

Registration required; Invite only. Those interested in attending should contact news@tech.cornell.edu.

Cornell Tech @ Bloomberg Speaker Series Featuring Chris Hughes

Date: Wednesday, May 7 (5:30 – 8:00 p.m.)
Location is off campus: 120 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017

Cornell Tech @ Bloomberg is a speaker series hosted by Bloomberg, in collaboration with Tech:NYC, that convenes leading figures in global technology for conversations.  These talks cultivate new insights and raise compelling questions about the tech industry, bringing together Bloomberg employees, members of the Cornell Tech community, and members of New York’s greater technology sector to hear from entrepreneurs, investors, and thinkers. The speaker on May 7 will be economist and writer Chris Hughes.

In his new book, “Marketcrafters: The 100-Year Struggle to Shape the American Economy,” Hughes explores the modern history of American capitalism. He shares stories of those who successfully and unsuccessfully shaped markets. He also reveals how both political parties have consistently used markets to achieve their social and political goals — such as avoiding gasoline shortages, reducing inflation, fostering the American aviation and semiconductor industries, addressing climate change, and encouraging financial innovation. Hughes co-founded Facebook in 2004 and directed Barack Obama’s digital organizing efforts in 2008.

Registration required.

Spring 2025 Startup Awards + Open Studio Event

Date: Friday, May 16 (3:00 – 8:00 p.m.)
Outdoor Tent, Tata Innovation Center, and Other Locations

Celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit of Cornell Tech’s graduating class at the Spring 2025 Startup Awards + Open Studio event. This event will feature the presentation of pitches from top student startup teams, each vying for a $100,000 investment to help bring their pre-seed stage companies to life.

The event kicks off with an interactive demo space showcasing projects from across the Cornell Tech ecosystem. At 4 p.m., Jack and Rilla Neafsey Dean and Vice Provost Greg Morrisett will welcome everyone for the pitch presentations. Following the pitches, attendees will hear from students who have innovated within major companies, learning firsthand how they’ve navigated the challenges of building at scale and pitching to decision-makers.

The event concludes with an announcement of the winning startup teams by special guest and Cornell alumnus Andrew Ross Sorkin, followed by a networking reception where industry leaders, investors, and executives will celebrate the next generation of tech entrepreneurs.

Registration required.

Made in MakerLAB Exhibition (during NYCxDESIGN)

Dates: Friday, May 16 (3:00 – 8:00 p.m.) and May 19–21 (10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.)
Tata Innovation Center, First Floor MakerLAB

Cornell Tech’s MakerLAB is a vibrant hub where creativity meets cutting-edge technology. The Made in MakerLAB exhibition invites attendees to explore a curated collection of innovative projects created by Cornell Tech students and researchers. Showcasing functional prototypes and hands-on solutions to real-world challenges, the exhibition highlights the power of design and technology to make tangible impact.

This year’s collection includes projects shaped not only by interdisciplinary collaboration on campus but also by engagements with community partners across New York City. Together, these works reflect Cornell Tech’s commitment to creating inclusive, purpose-driven innovation that connects campus creativity to broader civic and social contexts.

No registration required.

Design Tech Exhibition (during NYCxDESIGN)

Dates: Friday, May 16 (3:00 – 8:00 p.m.) and May 19–21 (10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.)
Tata Innovation Center, First Floor MakerLAB

Cornell’s multicollege Design Tech department, led by Arthur L. and Isabel B. Wiesenberger Professor of Architecture and designer Jenny Sabin, is at the forefront of integrating technology with design to solve complex global challenges. This exhibition will showcase the innovative projects developed by Design Tech Innovation Fellows, Design Tech faculty, and Design Technology students, emphasizing the department’s interdisciplinary approach to problem-solving.

Projects range from sustainable architecture solutions aimed at reducing carbon footprints to advancements in 3D printing that could revolutionize space exploration. Through the application of cutting-edge technologies like computational design, robotics, and materials science, Design Tech students are creating new pathways for addressing societal, environmental, and technological issues. The exhibition provides an in-depth look at how design thinking and technological innovation can tackle some of the most pressing issues of our time, offering a glimpse into the future of both design and technology.

No registration required.

Cornell Tech Studio Visit With Backslash Artist Noah Feehan

Date: Tuesday, May 20 (3:00 – 4:00 p.m.)
Tata Innovation Center, Backslash Studio Room 251

Noah Feehan, a 2024 Backslash Artist at Cornell Tech, is collaborating with Associate Professor Wendy Ju on SWOON ROUTINE, a drone performance artwork currently in progress. During this event, Feehan will discuss this artwork as well as his overall creative practice, which is highly interdisciplinary and often puts the traditional in tension with the technical. For Backslash, Feehan is exploring the technical and social state-of-the-art in autonomous flight. He will be making video works involving custom telemetry firmware and carefully-crafted “first-person view” drone missions that seduce the viewer, addressing them directly and implicating them in the artmaking process. The main work involves special modifications to the open-source flight control software, facilitating an unhinged, heedless performance mode: a perpetual “swoon routine” in which the devices fully lose control and freefall, recovering at the last possible moment before destruction.

Registration required.

NYCxDESIGN Tour: Cornell Tech + FDR Four Freedoms State Park

Date: Tuesday, May 20 (4:00 – 6:00 p.m.)
Bloomberg Center Lobby (meeting point)

Join us for an exciting and educational tour that will take you through two of New York City’s most iconic and innovative locations — Cornell Tech and the FDR Four Freedoms State Park on Roosevelt Island. This event is designed to give attendees a unique perspective on both cutting-edge technology and the rich history that shaped our nation’s values.

The tour will include a guided exploration of Cornell Tech, a symbol of New York’s leadership in technological innovation. Attendees will gain insight into the sustainable design and forward-thinking facilities, which include the impressive Emma and Georgina Bloomberg Center, the Tata Innovation Center, The House, and the Verizon Executive Education Center.

The tour will also include an overview of FDR Four Freedoms State Park, located on the southern tip of Roosevelt Island, and just a short walk from the Cornell Tech campus. This serene and beautifully designed park is dedicated to the memory of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his famous Four Freedoms speech, which articulated the fundamental rights all people deserve: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. At the Four Freedoms Park tour, attendees will learn about the history behind Roosevelt’s vision for a more just and peaceful world. The park’s design, crafted by architect Louis Kahn, is both monumental and contemplative, offering views of the Manhattan skyline, the East River, and the United Nations Headquarters.

The Park Conservancy’s CEO will explain the significance of the site, the symbolism in Kahn’s design, and the park’s role as a peaceful space for reflection and learning. This joint Cornell Tech and Four Freedoms Park Conservancy tour offers a unique blend of technological innovation and historical reflection, making it a must-attend event for anyone interested in New York City’s evolution and future. Whether you’re passionate about technology or history, this event will be an enriching and memorable experience.

Registration required.

Panel Discussion: The Future of the Intersection Between Design and Technology

Date: Tuesday, May 20 (6:00 – 7:00 p.m.)
Tata Innovation Center, Room 131

Join Jenny Sabin, Professor of Architecture and Chair of Cornell’s Department of Design Tech, and inaugural faculty and fellows, for an engaging panel discussion on the future of the intersection between design and technology. In conjunction with the Design Tech Open Studio Exhibition at Cornell Tech, this talk will explore how emerging technologies are transforming design practices and solving critical global challenges.

The new Department of Design Tech at Cornell University is a multicollege, transdisciplinary initiative. It pioneers innovation, research, and teaching on topics at the intersection of design and emerging technology that most greatly impact research, industry, and practice in a changing world. Bridging expertise and catalyzing exploration, innovation, and collaboration in emerging areas, including design + interactions, design + materials, and design + environments, Design Tech is a generator of new modes, methods, and applications that redefine design practice and research.

Cornell colleges participating in the Department of Design Tech include the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP), the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science (Bowers CIS), Cornell Engineering, Cornell Human Ecology (CHE), and Cornell Tech in New York City.

Panelists

  • Marcelo Coelho, Visiting Lecturer, Design Tech Innovation Fellow and Director of the Design Intelligence Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Marirena Kladeftira, Visiting Lecturer and Design Tech Innovation Fellow, Cornell University
  • Daniel Leithinger, Visiting Assistant Professor and Design Tech Innovation Fellow, Cornell University
  • Wendy Ju, Associate Professor and Director of the Car Simulator Lab, Cornell Tech, the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute, and Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science
  • Jenny Sabin, Arthur L. and Isabel B. Wiesenberger Professor and Chair of the Department of Design Tech, Cornell University College of Architecture, Art, and Planning

 

This event is part of the Design Tech Open Studio Exhibition at Cornell Tech, held at the MakerLAB in Cornell Tech’s Tata Innovation Center. Public hours for the exhibition are:

  • Friday, May 16: 3:00 pm – 8:00 pm
  • Monday, May 19: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
  • Tuesday, May 20: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
  • Wednesday, May 21: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

 

Registration required.

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By Patricia Waldron

Artificial intelligence-based writing assistants are popping up everywhere – from phones to email apps to social media platforms.

But a new study from Cornell – one of the first to show an impact on the user – finds these tools have the potential to function poorly for billions of users in the Global South by generating generic language that makes them sound more like Americans.

The study showed that when Indians and Americans used an AI writing assistant, their writing became more similar, mainly at the expense of Indian writing styles. While the assistant helped both groups write faster, Indians got a smaller productivity boost, because they frequently had to correct the AI’s suggestions.

Mor Naaman, the Don and Mibs Follett professor of information science at the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute at Cornell Tech and Cornell Bowers, is a co-author on the paper.

Read more at the Cornell Chronicle.

Patricia Waldron is a writer for the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science.

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By Grace Stanley

Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used in home health care – but home health care workers are generally unaware of that. Nor do they understand how AI works, why it may retain their information and that it could replicate bias and discrimination in their workplace.

A team of Cornell researchers investigated the implications of AI tools on the work of frontline home health care workers, such as personal care aides, home health aides and certified nursing assistants, in a qualitative study. They’ll present the work at the Association for Computing Machinery’s Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI ’25), April 26- May 1 in Yokohama, Japan.

“Our study takes the first steps in a broader agenda that seeks to elevate the voices of frontline stakeholders in the design and adoption of safe and ethical AI systems in home health care,” said Nicola Dell, co-author of the paper and associate professor of information science at Cornell Tech. She is also associate professor at the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute and at the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science.

Read more at the Cornell Chronicle.

Grace Stanley is a staff writer-editor for Cornell Tech.

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By Grace Stanley

Three alumni from Cornell Tech’s Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Law, Technology, and Entrepreneurship program have joined forces at ALVK Law, a law firm that provides on-demand legal services for tech entrepreneurs and enterprises without U.S.-based in-house counsel.

Victoria Kammerath, LL.M. ‘21, founded ALVK Law in March 2023, and was shortly thereafter joined by more recent graduates Agustín Iraola, LL.M. ‘23, and Valeria Monturiol, LL.M. ‘23, who Kammerath met during their studies at Cornell Tech.

The trio’s shared experiences at Cornell Tech laid the foundation for ALVK. An additional Cornell Tech alumnus, Benjamin Smalberger, LL.M. ‘23, also joined ALVK as an “Of Counsel” affiliated lawyer. The team put the “tech” they learned at Cornell Tech to use from day one, incorporating AI and building their practice around agile methodologies — a project management approach pioneered in software development.

“We wanted to disrupt the delivery of legal services while also preserving the high-quality standards typically associated with large law firms,” Kammerath said.

Kammerath, originally from Argentina, moved to the U.S. in 2020 to pursue the Cornell Tech LL.M. program. In Argentina, she had previously worked as an in-house counsel and government attorney, specifically working as Chief of Legal Staff for the Attorney General of Buenos Aires State. After completing her LL.M., Kammerath worked in New York as a Project Manager on a legal tech development initiative at Eisenberg & Baum, and subsequently as an International Associate in the Asset Finance team at Clifford Chance, before launching ALVK.

“I was interested in the intersection of law, business, and technology,” Kammerath said. “After researching multiple programs across the country, I realized that Cornell Tech was really different, and that’s why I decided to move here in the middle of the pandemic.”

ALVK’s Attorney and Business Development Manager, Valeria Monturiol, from Costa Rica, had experience in corporate and mergers and acquisitions law at EY, and a growing interest in technology when she joined the program in 2022.

“Cornell Tech sparked the desire to be as creative as possible. It’s very different from being just an employee in a company. We’re really trying to build something new and dynamic,” Monturiol added. “We also wanted to work together and be a bridge between Latin America and the United States. Some of our clients are also in that space.”

Open to practicing attorneys and recent law graduates from the U.S. and around the world, Cornell Tech’s LL.M. program provides students with a Cornell Law School education in technology law, practice, and policy. The program also allows students to participate in Cornell Tech’s flagship Product Studio course, where they learn to build products, act as founders, and experience firsthand the kinds of challenges their future startup clients will face while growing their businesses.

In addition to its two-semester offering at the Cornell Tech campus in New York City, the Tech LL.M. program also offers a three-semester option for international students. These students can spend an additional term at Cornell Law School’s main campus in Ithaca, New York, to take courses that qualify them for the New York State bar exam.

“The Cornell Tech LL.M. really hit the spot. It was very innovative,” Monturiol said. “I did the three-semester program, same as Victoria, so we got to see the experience between Cornell Tech and Cornell Ithaca. It was really the best year of my life so far.”

ALVK’s Foreign Legal Advisor and Head of Growth, Agustín Iraola, is also from Argentina and came to Cornell Tech from a background in government and regulatory analysis. He also had growing experience in the venture capital ecosystem after being part of the founding team of an asset tokenization startup, drawing him to the LL.M. program at Cornell Tech.

“Cornell Tech was a perfect match for completing my pivot into the tech and entrepreneurial space,” Iraola noted. “I reached out to Victoria, who spoke very highly of the program, and the rest is history.”

The program’s curriculum helped the team grow their experience in topics like high-growth corporate transactions, tech transactions, cybersecurity, privacy, artificial intelligence, and tech regulation. Monturiol also highlighted the importance of the Product Studio at Cornell Tech, where LL.M. students join teams with students across campus to create new products that address business challenges presented by leading startups, companies, and organizations in New York City.

“Having the ability to work with MBAs, with computer scientists, and with engineers really helped us understand the pain points of working in a startup and building a product,” Monturiol said. “Lawyers are trained to be risk-averse, but working in a startup environment pulls you in a different direction.”

Iraola added that ALVK is “living proof” of Cornell Tech’s startup focus and methodology. “Building startups is one of Cornell Tech’s main goals, and ALVK is proof that it works even in spaces where that’s not normal,” Iraola said. “We think of ourselves as a startup in a lot of ways. We know that’s not common in the legal space.”

New York City, with its vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem, proved to be an ideal location for ALVK. “New York is everything. It’s like being everywhere in the world at the same time,” Kammerath said. “Most entrepreneurs in the world want to be here, and believe that here is the place where you need to be to grow, to meet people, to find partners.”

As Kammerath, Iraola, and Monturiol continue to grow their firm, they remain committed to using technology and entrepreneurship to shape the future of law.

“AI enables our growth by optimizing legal deliverables, enhancing content creation, and increasing our profitability,” Kammerath emphasized. “We are committed to finding attorneys who are interested in being part of a startup environment and exploring business development at an early stage.”

“I think the three of us believe that law firms won’t look the same way in 10 years, and we really try to be tomorrow’s lawyers,” Monturiol added. “Right now, we are really identifying the pain points that law firms have, and trying to kill all that dead weight so we can be as dynamic as possible.”

Grace Stanley is a staff writer-editor for Cornell Tech.

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