Siwei Lyu named director of Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Siwei Lyu, a University at Buffalo expert on the forensics of deepfakes and other AI-generated media, has been named director of the university's Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science (IAD).

Effective Jan. 1, Lyu leads the institute that plays a key role in New York’s flagship university advancing its decades-long leadership in AI and data science. 

Established in 2021 when UB’s Artificial Intelligence Institute and the Institute for Computational Data Science were combined, IAD brings together faculty, labs and centers of excellence from across the university and industry partners to solve complex challenges. More than 200 UB faculty members are engaged in over 500 AI-infused projects, actively shaping the future and realizing AI for good.

Lyu, PhD, is a SUNY Distinguished Professor and SUNY Empire Innovation Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, within the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. He succeeds Jinjun Xiong, PhD, SUNY Empire Innovation Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, who served as IAD director from 2023-25.

“UB continues to deepen its commitment to responsibly harnessing AI and data science to address critical societal challenges,” says Venu Govindaraju, PhD, UB senior vice president for research, innovation and economic development. “We are excited that Siwei Lyu, who is among the world’s foremost authorities in digital media forensics and an expert in machine learning and computer vision, will assume leadership of IAD. The university’s commitment to responsible AI will be strengthened by his scholarly achievements and success in building multidisciplinary partnerships.”

As director of UB’s Media Forensics Lab and founding co-director of the university’s Center for Information Integrity, Lyu’s work has contributed to UB’s national reputation as a source for detecting and mitigating disinformation and misinformation online.

His lab’s DeepFake-o-Meter has been used over 27,000 times to authenticate or debunk photos and videos, and his expertise is frequently sought by the news media, including USA Today, CNN, The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, Newsweek, National Geographic and NPR. 

Lyu also works with both U.S and New York State policymakers, as well as industry, on the socially significant issues surrounding deepfakes and other synthetic media. He chairs the Scientific & Technical Review Panel on Forensic Science for the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

“Siwei Lyu is an exceptional scholar and leader whose work sits at the intersection of technical excellence and societal impact,” says Kemper Lewis, PhD, dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. “His internationally recognized expertise in AI and media forensics, combined with his dedication to ethical innovation, make him uniquely suited to lead IAD. Under his direction, the institute will continue to elevate UB’s role as a global leader in AI research and education.”

Lyu has authored more than 260 peer-reviewed papers and is among the most top-cited researchers in areas like deepfakes, information forensics and security. A holder of four U.S. patents, Lyu has received more than $12.7 million in research support from the National Science Foundation, DARPA and U.S. Space Force, among others. Numerous prestigious awards distinguish Lyu’s career, including the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities in 2018 and fellowships in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the International Association of Pattern Recognition and the Asia-Pacific Artificial Intelligence Association. Lyu was also named one of four Thought Leaders of 2024 by the American Association of Forensic Science.

“I’m excited to lead IAD at a time when AI and data science are transforming nearly every field. As AI becomes increasingly woven into every aspect of society, UB’s leadership in AI’s ethical and responsible use is increasingly important,” Lyu says. “I look forward to guiding IAD in advancing cutting-edge research while shaping the national dialogue on trustworthy and human-centered AI.”

A national leader in applying AI to improve education, UB has received federal grants exceeding $30 million from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Department of Education’s Institute for Education Sciences. UB has received numerous other awards that utilize AI to make improvements in health care, cybersecurity, clean energy, autonomous vehicles and other domains.

UB is also home to Empire AI, a more than $500 million statewide consortium that is advancing AI for the public good and whose supercomputing center is located at UB. By expanding access to computational power once reserved for private companies, Empire AI enables researchers at UB and across New York State to push the boundaries of discovery, accelerate innovation and translate research into solutions that improve lives and fuel economic growth statewide.