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Cornell Tech’s HealthNext 2024: AI convened more than 300 stakeholders from academia, industry, and government to foster collaboration in building a nexus of health technology innovation in New York City. Over two days, speakers, panelists, presenters, and attendees gathered on Cornell Tech’s Roosevelt Island campus in New York City to explore responsible uses of AI in healthcare.

Empowering Patients and Providers Through Tech

It’s empowering for individuals and communities to have access to their own health data. At HealthNext, Apple’s Vice President of Health Dr. Sumbul Desai reflected on the formative experience of caring for her mother after a stroke, which inspired her to go into medicine and explore ways to help patients and caregivers better manage their health.

“[At Apple], we don’t want to provide data for data’s sake,” said Dr. Desai. “We want that information to encourage individuals to be empowered, to be able to take an action based on that insight.”

But the potential for technology to empower healthcare providers remains an open question. AI tools could automate administrative tasks and lighten workloads, but Chief Global Information Officer of  Curtis Cole voiced skepticism that these efficiencies will actually improve the lives of doctors.

“I thought EHR was going to create more time and efficiency for me to see patients,” said Cole. “Boy, was I wrong. It made me more efficient at billing. It made me more efficient at doing a whole bunch of things that my employer benefits from, that the insurance company benefits from, that society benefits from, and guess what I have to do? I have to see more patients.”

Protecting Privacy in a Digital Age

While AI and other technologies can empower people to take control of their health, concerns about privacy in the digital age remain top of mind. Board Member of Keystone Strategies Virginia McFerran explained that attackers are getting more and more successful at stealing companies’ data, and AI only makes it easier for them

to “screen scrape” websites like LinkedIn to create convincing scams.

“It’s a war out there,” McFerran said, urging tech companies to know what their policy is ahead of time so that they can act quickly in the event of a data breach. “That means encrypting your data, it means keeping logs granular, it means being responsive.”

At the same time, data sharing and interoperability will be integral to research and healthcare delivery. Micky Tripathi, PhD, MPP, the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology for the US Department of Health & Human Services, discussed the challenge of data sharing in the private sector, given that competition between companies may result in information blocking. The policy response to this challenge, Tripathi explained, is that unless information is confidential, institutions are required by law to share data with one another to improve patient care.

Exploring the Nuances of Consent and Confidentiality

The role of consent in healthcare is critical yet complex. Information Science Professor Helen Nissenbaum described her theory of contextual integrity, which notes that given the complexity of health data, the lay population may not fully understand what they are giving consent for in a medical context. Healthcare inequities exacerbate this issue; NYU Bioethics Professor Art Caplan noted that access to the latest health technology varies widely even in a wealthy, technologically sophisticated country like the US.

“You don’t have opportunity to maximize your aptitudes and skills and abilities… if you don’t have health,” said Caplan. “So to me it’s a right, not a privilege… That means that you’ve got to build in equity concerns at the research side.”

Investing in a Better Future

HealthNext explored the dynamics of investment in AI innovations. Deputy Director of ARPA-H

Susan Monarez offered a government perspective, explaining her department’s “high-impact” investment s

trategy, funding some of the most challenging health problems of our time. “The bottom line is…we would like to allow people to explore a [high] risk space in their academic settings,” giving them the freedom to explore transformative solutions on a longer time scale. 

Vice Chair of the Clinton Foundation Chelsea Clinton, DPhil, MPH urged the audience of founders, researchers, and innovators to consider public service as part of their career trajectory.

“Optimism is a moral choice, and it’s a moral choice how we use what we’re afraid of and build better for tomorrow,” said Clinton. “Whatever brought you here, you fundamentally care about what happens tomorrow… So think about what you want to invest in and what you want to build, and think about whether or not you want to run for office.”

Applying AI in Healthcare

Many health tech startups are already successfully exploring applications of AI technologies in healthcare. Biotia, a startup launched out of Cornell Tech’s Runway Startups Program, uses AI to fight against infectious diseases, addressing a problem that kills 14 million people annually. Another startup, Abstractive Health, is working to lighten physicians’ workloads by automating administrative tasks like note taking. These are just two examples of the revolutionary new approaches coming out of the startup world.

Pessimism or Optimism?

Throughout the Summit, conversations returned to the question of pessimism versus optimism. Concerns about data privacy and bias in machine learning models, for example, must be weighed against the potential benefits to operational efficiency and reducing administrative burden on clinicians. The emergence of AI in healthcare could also be an opportunity for us all to rethink and reshape our healthcare systems for the better by finally including those who have been historically excluded from conversations and research.

HealthNext 2024 convened thinkers and doers of different backgrounds and skill sets, and attendees witnessed the transformative power a diverse group of people can have in improving the future of healthcare.

The HealthNext Summit is an initiative of the Health Tech Hub at Cornell Tech’s Jacobs Institute. To learn more and get updates about next year’s Summit, visit the website and sign up for the newsletter.

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As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape industries, Cornell Tech and the SC Johnson College of Business have partnered to launch Generative AI for Business Transformation, a new, live online certificate program to equip professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to harness the power of AI.

“Organizations and individuals who can harness the potential of AI will gain a huge advantage, while those taken by the hype who don’t upskill and prepare will risk obsolescence,” said Karan Girotra, faculty author, Cornell Tech professor and Charles H. Dyson Family Professor of Management. “This certificate program is designed to provide participants with a deep understanding of the capabilities and compromises of AI, and empower them with skills to increase their managerial effectiveness and transform business processes.”

Recent advances in AI have enabled machines to outperform humans in several kinds of knowledge work, particularly in producing linguistic and visual elements based on large volumes of information. Girotra emphasizes the remarkable potential of the underlying technologies, which are facilitating breakthroughs in medicine, chemistry and physics.

The live online certificate program available through eCornell, will span five weeks, beginning April 29, 2024, and will be conducted by Girotra on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET. Participants will evaluate the most effective ways to adopt AI technologies, exploring how AI enables new, automated, highly scalable and low-cost methods of cognitive work. The curriculum will also address AI’s ethical and legal concerns, underscoring the need for responsible adoption and policymaking.

Girotra notes that while AI offers immense opportunities, it also presents challenges: “These new capabilities also empower bad actors, open new ethical and legal concerns and test regulatory frameworks. There is also a significant probability of a monopoly provider of the technology. This could shift economic power to Big Tech, posing a long-term existential threat to smaller organizations engaged in work that can be automated. This program will help participants navigate these complexities and leverage AI responsibly.”

The Generative AI for Business Transformation certificate is positioned as a crucial resource for leaders looking to stay ahead in an increasingly AI-driven world. Organizations and individuals seeking to transform their businesses or careers are encouraged to explore this innovative offering from eCornell. The certificate will be delivered live, and space in the program is limited. Learn more and enroll.

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In honor of his technical achievements, Noah Snavely was recently named a 2023 Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Fellow. ACM, the largest and most prestigious society of computing professionals, recognizes the top 1% of members for their outstanding accomplishments in computing and information technology through its fellowship program.

“I never imagined receiving such an honor when I was starting out,” he reflects. Snavely’s journey from academia to entrepreneurship and back epitomizes two core concepts that Cornell Tech offers: the academic rigor of a Cornell/Technion education coupled with having access to critical startup infrastructure and resources.

From his undergraduate days at the University of Arizona to his pioneering role as a leading researcher in the field of computer vision at Cornell Tech, Snavely has had a journey marked by groundbreaking discoveries and an unyielding drive to redefine the boundaries of what is achievable in this emerging research domain.

Snavely’s foray into computer vision – a field focused on developing algorithms to enable computers to interpret and understand visual information from images or videos – began during his time at Arizona.

“I was always interested in computer graphics, but then one of my undergrad advisors said, ‘Why not explore computer vision?’ So I thought I’d give that a try,” he recalls.

During his PhD studies at the University of Washington, Snavely developed new software capable of constructing intricate 3D models from internet photos—a feat previously unheard of in the field.

This research eventually led to a collaborative entrepreneurial venture with his wife, which was  later acquired by Google, where Snavely then spent several years focusing on industry innovation. However, his passion for pushing the boundaries of computer vision ultimately drew him back to academia, finding a home at Cornell Tech.

At Cornell Tech, Snavely’s work spans a diverse range of projects, from mapping technologies to immersive VR experiences. “My expertise in generative AI for 3D models is reshaping how we interact with digital spaces,” he explains. Snavely’s recent research on synthesizing entire 3D worlds from text prompts has exciting real-world implications across various industries such as game design and filmmaking.

As Snavely contemplates the future of computer vision, he acknowledges the uncertainties that lie ahead. “Rapid advancements in generative AI raise questions about the ethical implications of autonomous content creation,” he observes.

While the prospect of computers autonomously generating entire movies from scripts is both intriguing and concerning, Snavely, a movie buff himself, remains steadfast in his commitment to leveraging technology for positive change and pushing the boundaries of possibility in the field of computer vision.

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Emma Pierson, assistant professor of computer science at the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute at Cornell Tech, is one of 19 researchers who have been awarded an AI2050 Early Career Fellowship from Schmidt Sciences for her work seeking to use artificial intelligence to promote equity.

Pierson, also a computer science field member at the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science, is working on “Using LLMs (large-language models) for Health Equity.” As a member of the second cohort of Early Career Fellows, she will receive $300,000 over two years from Schmidt Sciences to further her work related to artificial intelligence and health care.

“I’m delighted and honored, and very much looking forward to meeting and possibly collaborating with the other fellows,” Pierson said. “I’m a big fan of work done by the previous cohort, and the funding will be invaluable to support students and postdocs interested in this research direction.”

Pierson will use her funding to explore how LLMs can be used to improve health equity by both cataloging and studying specific use cases. And instead of trying to mitigate AI’s biases, she will attempt to apply LLMs to enhance equity and expand opportunities for underserved and marginalized groups.

Conceived and co-chaired by Eric Schmidt and James Manyika, AI2050 advances Eric and Wendy Schmidt’s $125 million commitment over five years to identify and support talented individuals seeking solutions to ensure society benefits from AI.

In the fall, Pierson was one of five researchers selected as a 2023 Samsung AI Researcher of the Year, a program that recognizes promising researchers who have made outstanding contributions to the field of artificial intelligence. Awardees receive $30,000 in prize money.

The awardees were announced in November at the Samsung AI Forum in Gyeonggi-do, Korea. “I am honored to receive the Samsung AI Researcher Award and grateful for Samsung continuing support of AI research,” Pierson said.

Pierson holds a secondary joint appointment as an assistant professor of population health sciences at Weill Cornell Medicine. She has received an NSF CAREER Award, and been recognized by the MIT Technology Review (35 Innovators Under 35, 2021) and by Forbes (30 Under 30 in Science, 2020).

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The Roosevelt Island campus joins more than 350 cultural institutions around the globe with a free guide on the Bloomberg Connects app that features its art collection and enriches on- and off-site visits

Cornell Tech has launched a new, digital guide highlighting the many cultural attributes of its campus on Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and cultural app created by Bloomberg Philanthropies. The Bloomberg Connects app, available for download from Google Play or the App Store, makes Cornell Tech accessible for either on- or off-site visits through photo, audio and video features – offering insights into how the campus is achieving its mission of driving technology and the AI era towards lasting economic and social prosperity for New York City and the world.

Visitors engaging with Cornell Tech on the Bloomberg Connects platform will be able to explore key features of the state-of-the-art campus including some artworks that are not available for public in-person viewing. Included in the app content are the following highlights:

“We are thrilled to share the many highlights of Cornell Tech’s Roosevelt Island campus with a worldwide audience on the Bloomberg Connects platform,” said Greg Morrisett, Jack and Rilla Neafsey Dean and Vice Provost of Cornell Tech. ​“Our impressive art installations, cutting-edge facilities, energy-efficient buildings, and campus design all contribute to making Cornell Tech one of the best destinations in the world to educate leaders, create new technologies, and launch ventures. We are grateful for the opportunity to showcase these attributes thanks to our partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies.”

“During our time in City Hall, we helped launch Cornell Tech as a way to keep New York City on the cutting edge of technological innovation. Since then, the team at Bloomberg Philanthropies has worked with the university to create a campus that celebrates forward-thinking art and design,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies. “Now, audiences around the world will have an opportunity to learn more about Cornell Tech’s immersive artwork and sustainable design — and to gain a better understanding of its contributions to the city’s tech industry. More than 365 world-class institutions are using the Bloomberg Connects app to expand access to art and culture, and we’re excited that Cornell Tech is now among them.”

Located on Roosevelt Island, Cornell Tech’s 12-acre campus is New York City’s most cutting-edge high-tech destination, comprising a thriving and inclusive community of creative thinkers who work at the crossroads of research, education, and innovation. Cornell Tech was made possible by an economic development initiative of Michael Bloomberg’s mayoral administration, which included an award competition among institutions of higher education worldwide that ended in 2011 with Cornell University and its partner, the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, being named the winners. The partnership between Cornell Tech and Bloomberg Philanthropies dates back to a $100 million gift in 2014 to construct The Emma and Georgina Bloomberg Center, the first academic building on the campus and the home to most of its art collection.

Bloomberg Connects offers free digital guides to cultural organizations around the world. The app platform is part of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ longstanding commitment to supporting digital innovation in the arts. Bloomberg Connects makes it easy to access and engage with arts and culture from mobile devices when visiting in person, or anytime from anywhere. With dynamic content exclusive to each partner organization, the app provides a range of features including video, audio, and text; expert commentary; and way-finding maps. Follow Bloomberg Connects on Instagram, Facebook, and X for updates on new guide launches, exhibit highlights, and more.

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Healthcare is in the midst of a quiet revolution. Health Tech, the application of emerging technologies to medicine, promises to touch every aspect of the health system, from diagnostics and care to hospital administration, patient advocacy, and even health equity. In recent years, the fast-growing sector of Artificial Intelligence has accelerated Health Tech’s already-high rate of change, generating unprecedented business and medical opportunities – and ethical challenges.

“How can AI solutions improve the quality and outcomes in healthcare? How do you make sure AI systems are fair and unbiased? How can it reinforce patient-provider trust? Can AI reduce existing inefficiencies in healthcare? These are questions that affect everyone,” said Tanzeem Choudhury, Roger and Joelle Burnell Professor in Integrated Health and Technology at Cornell Tech, and organizer of the upcoming HealthNext Summit (March 4 to 5 on the Roosevelt Island Campus), which is presented by the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute housed at Cornell Tech

With a broad, interdisciplinary mission, the second annual HealthNext Summit will bring together leading AI thinkers from across Health Tech, healthcare, and public health to envision a future where AI creates a medical system that is at once more effective and more equitable. Welcoming such experts as Micky Tripathi, PhD, MPP, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, US Department of Health & Human Services; Susan Monarez, Deputy Director, ARPA-H; James Landay, co-founder of the Stanford Institute for Human-centered Artificial Intelligence; the Clinton Global Initiative’s Chelsea Clinton; and Apple’s Vice President of Health Dr. Sumbul Desai, the conference also draws on Cornell Tech’s deep bench of expertise across the Doctoral, Master’s, and Runway Startup programs in Health Tech.

“This event will highlight cutting edge research, innovative science-backed products from big-tech and startups, and the perspectives of how these solutions can transform healthcare for clinical leaders,” said Choudhury, who researches how technology can create personalized and proactive healthcare systems that support health and wellbeing. “In recent years, we have seen amazing development at the intersection of AI and health that can meet the significant needs in healthcare. But Health Tech conversations are too often siloed. With HealthNext, we’re bringing together technology researchers, clinical practitioners, and businesses creating innovative solutions and facilitating deep conversations that could lead to transformative, scalable, and financially viable solutions in healthcare.”

The inaugural Summit last year, which focused on behavioral health, brought together more than 200 clinical practitioners, researchers, entrepreneurs, care delivery organizations, and payers. Patrick J. Kennedy, former U.S. Representative and founder of The Kennedy Forum, and New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan gave keynote speeches.

Translating research into real-world impact characterizes the philosophy of Cornell Tech’s Health Tech Hub. One-third of the 100+ runway start-ups to emerge from the campus since its founding have been health focused, including Nanit (a Wirecutter-approved baby sleep tracking software), Biotia (a pioneering pathogen detection company), and Otari (a smart exercise mat that was acquired by Peloton).

The conference will explore health and AI from diverse perspectives, with an emphasis on ensuring that AI is being used to solve real problems for real people. From ethical considerations to clinical applications, HealthNext 2024 will explore the real issues at stake and give innovators and thought leaders the knowledge, connections, and insight to advance a more responsible, effective, and authentic future for healthcare.

Learn more about the Summit here and register here.

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By Tom Fleischman

A confluence of events, combined with a healthy obsession for details and a love of writing, gave computer scientist Ari Juels just what he needed to produce his second fiction thriller.

Juels, the Weill Family Foundation and Joan and Sanford I. Weill Professor in the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute at Cornell Tech and the Technion, spent much of the pandemic-forced lockdown and a coincidental sabbatical writing “The Oracle,” his new novel about a software developer who, along with his FBI partner, race against time to dismantle a murderous blockchain program launched by the Delphians, worshippers of the ancient Greek god Apollo.

Juels – also a computer science faculty member in the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science – tells the story from an expert perspective: The technology described (often in great detail but for a general audience) is based heavily on research he and his research group are doing at Cornell Tech’s Roosevelt Island campus.

“Much of my research for the book didn’t involve what many novelists do – that is, reading scholarly publications – but instead I was writing those publications,” Juels said. “Part of the fun of ‘The Oracle’ is that I was, and am, living the research in the novel.”

This is Juels’ second foray into the literary world. His first was the 2010 computer security thriller, “Tetraktys,” which, like “The Oracle,” combines Greek history and modern-day technology in a tale of mysterious computer break-ins, international intrigue and corruption.

Juels talked with the Chronicle about his new novel:

Question: Is this a cautionary tale? Your author’s note at the beginning of the book reads like a warning of sorts.

Answer: Most certainly. At its heart, the story is a cautionary tale about haphazardly fusing technologies – in this case, blockchains with artificial intelligence, specifically large language models such as ChatGPT. The scenario in the book involves a blockchain technology called smart contracts automatically paying bounties for murders. AI plays a role here by interpreting news articles to adjudicate payment. The novel is near-future sci-fi, but the technologies it describes are here now and its premise is technologically plausible. Happily, smart contracts like the one in The Oracle aren’t possible with today’s infrastructure and I think colleagues in the community are taking the future risks seriously.

Q: This book is based on a 2015 research paper you co-wrote; how much other research did you do in the writing of the book?

A: The technology part of the book is based heavily on our research, including a 2015 paper and a number of others – some of which have seen the light of day as blockchain technologies in use today. I did have to do a fair amount of research in the old-fashioned way – reading books and articles – for the other aspects of the book, especially the history of the Oracle of Delphi.

Q: What are the biggest dangers of blockchain/cryptocurrency/smart contracts and the like?

A: There are two dangers: the rock and the hard place, if you will. On the one hand, blockchain technologies, like all technologies, are dual-use and can be abused in all kinds of ways. That includes scams, like FTX – the exchange run by the now infamous Sam Bankman-Fried – and criminal uses, both of the kind that are common today and those that might occur in the future, like the one in my novel. Those are a clear, present and evolving danger.

But on the other hand, there’s also the danger of overreaction or misconceptions about the downsides of the technology. For instance, I worry that people, especially politicians, will conflate the frothy and sometimes silly side of crypto – think dog-themed coins and other meme coins – with the deep and powerful blockchain technology that crypto has given rise to. The result could be that a promising and rapidly evolving technology is quashed in its infancy. So in short, the dangers I worry about are abuse and neglect.

Q: History and its ties to the present are evident in both of your novels; what is your fascination with the ancients?

A: In general, I find the vantage point of the ancient world an immensely insightful way to understand the modern one. When it comes to ancient Greece in particular, though, my fascination is with a kind of miracle: This tiny community, over a short span of time, was responsible for the birth of theater, philosophy, accurate depiction of the human body, and democracy – just to name a few of the outcomes of the creative explosion there. To me, this is a recurring source of wonder.

Q: How has fiction writing informed or changed your academic writing, if at all?

A: Not much. Academic writing is so constrained by the standards and conventions of the academic community that there isn’t much opportunity for real stylistic experimentation. One example: A colleague of mine and I published a paper way back when in which we cited the popular cookbook “The Joy of Cooking.” We were chastised by reviewers for what they felt was an insufficiently scholarly citation. That’s just how hidebound some parts of the community are.

I see fiction as a way to ask important what-ifs for which there’s little room in academic circles. It’s also a way, I hope, to popularize technological ideas for non-technologists – and in this case, to draw attention to all of the wild and visionary things happening in the blockchain world that are so rarely written about.

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By Justin Heitzman

Keeping pace with the swift disruption of artificial intelligence (AI) and other trends in tech has proven to be a challenge across industries. Cornell Tech product and technology experts Keith Cowing and Josh Hartmann know firsthand how emerging technologies and attitude shifts can prompt radical changes in the world of product development.

The Product and Tech Leadership Summit, which will take place this September at Cornell Tech in New York City, is an immersive learning and networking experience for professionals who lead product teams. They will learn from industry leaders, AI researchers and expert Cornell faculty how to leverage transformation techniques to build high-performing products and tech teams. Cowing and Hartmann recently shared a preview of the Summit’s topics:

Use Available Tools and Understand New Opportunities

While the rapid pace of change in the product development space can feel overwhelming, Cowing and Hartmann suggest using existing tools rather than shying away from them. According to Hartmann, it is unlikely that ChatGPT represents the full reality of the AI-integrated future, but professionals should be familiar with it and other current tools. Familiarity can empower executives to create plans of action: “You can’t shift the entire enterprise all at once, but what are the pieces of the enterprise that you can start to move over?” asked Hartmann, chief practice officer for Cornell Tech.

Hartmann and Cowing agree that companies must continue the work to understand and harness the power of AI. Generative AI can perform data analysis and write code, potentially allowing the automation of complex processes such as optimizing web pages for mobile.

“Some companies are building as their product – they’re AI companies. Some will put AI in their product and augment what they do. And then some will just be more efficient with it, and that’s going to affect everybody,” said Cowing, a visiting lecturer at Cornell Tech.

Breakthroughs in spatial computing technology, led by Apple’s recently announced Vision Pro, also present a range of critical product development opportunities and obstacles. “It’s too early to know if the vision – pun intended – is going to stand up. If it does, then we’re also going to see major reskilling required in our teams,” Hartmann said.

Focus on the Customer

A shift toward customer-focused strategy is driving change in the product development industry. Airbnb, for example, has made sweeping changes to its product with the intent of improving the customer experience. For Cowing and Hartmann, AI carries the potential to accelerate such processes.

“How do we implement AI and build a tooling around it that will help our customers get the job done? And that’s the key … the sweet spot comes when you can integrate AI and build value and context around AI on behalf of your customer. You can use and apply your deep understanding of your customers’ needs and use AI as an accelerant, a force multiplier,” Hartmann said.

Make a Positive Impact

While recent advancements in AI and spatial computing create many new possibilities, they also prompt serious ethical questions. Hartmann and Cowing contend that the difference that these technologies create in the world will depend on the people who implement them.

“Somehow [we must create] the incentives in the system so that people want to do the right thing and are encouraged to do the right thing,” said Cowing.

To influence positive change through new tech, Hartmann encourages professionals to pursue careers with mission-driven companies and leaders: “Be intentional about where you work. It really does come from the top,” he said.

Cowing and Hartmann look forward to welcoming professionals to the Product and Tech Executive Leadership Program at Cornell Tech in September. Participants will learn from experts about tech trends, AI ethics and associated market dynamics through in-depth discussions and networking events with a group of industry leaders and peers.

Space is limited in the program so interested individuals should apply early.

Want to learn more before applying?

Watch Cowing and Hartmann’s webcast “The Future of Product Development is Here.”
Listen to Cowing’s podcast episode “How to Navigate Transformation in Tech.”

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Cornell Tech’s Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute will now offer companies worldwide an opportunity to send talented employees to an intensive one-year program to work on new business ventures that explore commercial uses for emerging technologies.

The new Cornell Tech Venture Fellows Program at the Jacobs Institute allows individuals to immerse themselves with a cohort of academically-minded entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs from diverse global businesses at Cornell University’s state-of-the-art tech campus in the heart of New York City.

The program is powered by Cornell Tech’s successful Runway Startups Program in the Jacobs Institute, which has launched more than 100 startups since 2014. Today those startups are valued at more than $660 million. They include businesses started by postdoctoral fellows as well as master’s degree candidates who pursue ventures through Cornell Tech’s Studio program.

Now, in addition to the existing startup opportunities on its campus, Cornell Tech will offer corporate leaders the chance to identify talented employees with similar potential for this new Venture Fellows Program.

Malwina Lewicka, Prehab Prep (Runway Startup Postdoc), Michael Cialone, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (Mentor), and Matthew Meyer, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (Mentor)

“Supporting new tech ventures is core to Cornell Tech’s mission and we are thrilled to offer companies this unique opportunity on our campus, which is custom-built for cutting-edge entrepreneurial explorations,” says Greg Morrisett, Jack and Rilla Neafsey Dean and Vice Provost of Cornell Tech. “We look forward to seeing what new ventures emerge from these corporate partnerships.”

The Cornell Tech Venture Fellows Program promises to transform companies’ most talented scientists and technologists into business leaders through this intensive training and education program that allows them to acquire valuable commercialization and leadership skills designed to boost their company’s R&D priorities. The first cohort of up to 5 fellows will begin in fall of 2024.

“As a former corporate and academic researcher and co-founder of multiple startups, I have experienced firsthand the challenges of translating raw technology discovery into commercial products and ventures,” says Israel Cidon, Director of the Jacobs Cornell-Technion Institute. “This new program helps corporate leaders  bridge this gap by unlocking potential within their workforce and empowering them to take ideas to market.”

“Corporations possess amazing technical and scientific talent that is underutilized,” adds Fernando Gómez-Boquero, Director of Runway and Spinouts at Cornell Tech. “Our program will train and mentor this corporate talent so that they become leaders of the next generations of products and services, creating billions in value for their corporations and even more value for customers and the world. We have already trained hundreds of scientists, built over 100 companies, and generated billions in enterprise value. We are now ready to open up this valuable program to more partners in New York City and around the world.”

The program is open to employees from any industry interested in emerging business models utilizing deep technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and other technologies that meet the program’s deep tech criteria.

Find more information on the program here.

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By: Sarah Marquart

Associate Professor of Computer Science at Cornell Tech Alexander “Sasha” Rush and his colleagues from Hugging Face earned an Outstanding Main Track Runner-Up award at the December 2023 NeurIPS Annual Conference on Neural Information Processing Systems.

Their winning paper, Scaling Data-Constrained Language Models, was among six recognized by the awards committee out of a record 13,321 submissions. The team’s research delves into the science of scaling large language models (LLMs), particularly studying the impact of training dataset size.

The authors explain that if LLM training — the technology behind AI chatbots like ChatGPT — continues to scale indefinitely, we will quickly reach the point where there isn’t enough existing data to support further learning. High-quality English language data could be exhausted as soon as this year, with low-quality data following as early as 2030, according to an October 2022 study the authors cite.

Anticipating these impending challenges, Rush and his colleagues explored optimal strategies for scaling large language models in data-limited environments. They focused on solutions that strike a delicate balance between performance and cost, taking into account elements such as computational resources and environmental strain.

Their award-winning research revealed that there are indeed limits on the scaling horizon and suggested the need for more effective utilization of available data. The authors are optimistic that their findings will pave the way for understanding how models gain their capabilities using existing data.

“Large language models are powered by data, and they get better because of high-quality human-written text,” says Rush. “It’s critical to remember that the work of writers, from journalists to stack-overflow experts, forms the basis of what we call generative AI.”

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