Stony Brook University Computer Science

The Department of Computer Science at SUNY Korea successfully hosted the 2026 AI Summer School Program from July 13 to 17, 2026, on the SUNY Korea campus. The week-long program welcomed 42 student attendees, including students from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), Korea University, and Inha University, bringing together participants from a variety of academic backgrounds to explore how artificial intelligence is being applied in practice today.

The program featured a series of lectures delivered by SUNY Korea faculty members alongside invited industry leaders, including CEOs and CTOs from companies actively working with AI. These sessions gave students insight into both the foundations of AI and how it is currently being deployed across different industries, connecting academic concepts to the realities of professional practice. Each day was built around a different theme, allowing participants to encounter a broad view of the field over the course of the week.

Beyond the lectures, the program placed strong emphasis on hands-on learning. Students completed a unique exercise each day, drawn from real-life AI applications used by participating companies, giving them direct experience with the tools and workflows practitioners rely on. Participants were divided into five teams and presented their work at the end of every day, sharing their approaches and results with instructors and peers. The daily presentation format encouraged collaboration, gave students immediate feedback, and helped them build confidence in communicating technical work to an audience.

Feedback from participants was highly positive. In the post-program survey, the 55 respondents rated their overall experience an average of 4.71 out of 5, while instructor approachability and responsiveness received an average rating of 4.86 out of 5. In addition, 50 respondents said they would recommend the program to a friend or colleague, and 36 reported that the program exceeded their expectations. Participants particularly appreciated the opportunity to learn from both university faculty and industry professionals and to apply what they learned through hands-on projects. Several students also highlighted the value of discovering practical applications of AI beyond the scope of their own academic disciplines, gaining new perspectives on how AI can be used across a wide range of fields.

One of the most meaningful outcomes of the week was the demonstration that AI is not the domain of computer science majors alone. Students from a wide range of disciplines successfully applied AI techniques to their own projects and interests, showing that the technology can serve as a practical tool for anyone willing to learn it. Building on the success of this year's AI Summer School, the Department of Computer Science will continue to offer programs that make emerging technologies accessible to students across majors and institutions, fostering innovation, collaboration, and academic excellence.