Stony Brook's $5M AI Unit: A New Academic Front

The Charles B. Wang Center in Stony Brook, New York, hosted a presentation on October 16 that reframed artificial intelligence as a collaborator.

Yvette Wohn, the inaugural chair of the university's new Department of Technology, AI and Society, spoke at the Homecoming Thought Leadership Series. She argued that AI is evolving beyond a simple system to become an active partner in human workflows. This perspective drives the department's interdisciplinary approach, which blends technology, journalism, and communication.

Wohn holds a master's degree in journalism from Harvard University and a PhD in Media and Information Studies from Michigan State University. Her background informs the department's strategy to examine AI through multiple academic lenses. The unit is backed by a $5 million investment from New York State to support this research.

During her talk, Wohn detailed how AI affects sectors from healthcare to the arts. In medicine, the technology analyzes images to identify diagnoses, freeing professionals to spend more time on patient communication. She cited a 2022 incident at the Colorado State Fair where an AI-generated piece won an art prize. That event sparked a debate over whether human direction is enough to claim authorship, especially when creators did not consent to their work training the models.

The presentation also covered the rise of AI companions and digital representations of deceased performers. Wohn noted that platforms like YouTube now feature recent songs by Michael Jackson, generated from large voice databases. She questioned whether the performer consented to such posthumous releases. These examples illustrate the growing privacy and identity issues surrounding digital twins.

The department aims to address these gaps by connecting technology with the humanities and social sciences. Wohn emphasized the unique position of academia to study long-term consequences without the pressure of shareholder profits. She compared the current lack of AI regulation to the process of releasing a new drug, which requires medical trials and FDA approval. The university plans to maintain this focus on responsible development and human experience as it expands its programs.

Wohn concluded by urging the audience to engage with policymakers. She highlighted the need for a regulatory framework that mirrors the careful testing required for medical advancements. The department will continue to explore how AI design influences its use in daily life.