Stony Brook, NY, July 8th, 2026 — Stony Brook University has joined the AI Alliance, a global nonprofit coalition advancing open, safe and responsible artificial intelligence through innovation, collaboration and advocacy.
Through its membership, Stony Brook University, led by its AI Innovation Institute (AI3), will participate in Project Tapestry, an AI Alliance initiative designed to support globally federated development of frontier models while preserving local control and long-term independence.
Lav R. Varshney, Della Pietra Infinity Professor and inaugural director of the AI Innovation Institute, said, “Joining the AI Alliance gives us an important opportunity to contribute to open AI infrastructure and collaborate with global institutions to ensure that the future of AI is broadly accessible, scientifically grounded and responsibly developed. Project Tapestry is especially aligned with our interest in building AI systems and communities that preserve local agency while advancing shared progress.”
Stony Brook University's AI3 organizes, coordinates, and accelerates AI innovation and education across the entire campus. It serves the campus, local community, state, and the world in missions of research, teaching, technology diffusion, and societal/policy discourse. Its work includes core AI research, AI applications across industrial, societal and scholarly sectors, AI services for faculty and partners, and educational efforts focused on equity and responsible engagement with emerging technologies.
The AI Alliance brings together companies, startups, universities, research institutions, government organizations and nonprofit foundations working at the forefront of AI technology, applications and governance. It advances open source AI by fostering open innovation, building inclusive communities, sharing data, models, tools,and best practices while promoting transparency, safety, and responsible development to drive trustworthy AI adoption globally. The AI Alliance’s project areas include open data and models, AI agents, safety and governance, and education and advocacy.
“Project Tapestry depends on exactly the kind of partner Stony Brook is: a leading research university committed to AI that's open, scientifically grounded, and accountable to the communities it serves. Their AI Innovation Institute strengthens our shared work to build frontier AI that advances global progress while preserving local control. We're glad to welcome them to the Alliance,” said Anthony J. Annunziata, chairman of the AI Alliance and director of AI Open Innovation at IBM.
As a member of the AI Alliance, Stony Brook will contribute to collaborative efforts that align with its mission to advance pioneering AI research, support responsible technology diffusion and expand access to AI education and expertise across New York State and beyond.
About Stony Brook University’s AI Innovation Institute
Stony Brook University’s AI Innovation Institute organizes, coordinates and accelerates AI innovation and education across the university. It supports research, teaching, AI services, technology diffusion, curriculum development, policy engagement and work addressing the societal implications of artificial intelligence.
About AI Alliance
The AI Alliance is a nonprofit organization dedicated to building and advancing open source AI agents, data, models, evaluation, safety, applications and advocacy to ensure that everyone can benefit from artificial intelligence. Through member-driven working groups, the AI Alliance brings together builders and experts from across sectors to collaboratively and transparently address the challenges of generative AI and democratize its benefits.