Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is “laser focused on this once-in-a-generation opportunity to position Pennsylvania to serve as the frontier of innovation and job creation and a beacon for opportunity for all of us,” Carnegie Mellon University President Farnum Jahanian said of the governor’s ideas to use artificial intelligence to transform the commonwealth. Tuesday’s AI Horizons Summit in Bakery Square, where Jahanian made this statement, hammered-in how focused on the tech future the governor can be.  In this inaugural daylong summit centered on human-first AI innovation, Shapiro, along with Jahanian, University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Joan Gabel and NVIDIA Vice President Anthony Robbins, signed a memorandum of understanding, creating an AI collaboration among the universities, the commonwealth and one of the the world’s most valuable companies.Called the “NVIDIA AI Tech Community,” the collaboration includes a center at CMU focused on robotics, autonomy and AI, plus a center for AI and intelligent systems at Pitt.  NVIDIA, whose computer chips are at the heart of data centers for AI, aims to accelerate innovation and the commercialization of AI technologies through partnerships with these universities to “drive cutting-edge advancements and strengthen the city’s innovation ecosystem.”Shapiro described the public signing of the memorandum at the summit to show that “we’re the center of the universe.”Attendees at the AI Horizons Summit on Oct. 14. Photo by David Radin.Human-centric AI and technology for economic growthAfter the signing, the governor talked with NEXTpittsburgh about his plans for making Pennsylvania “the center of the universe” for innovation, including the initiative with NVIDIA and other bills he has signed since taking office.He said he has been working with the state Department of Education, Department of Community and Economic Development and other partners to make sure that as we deploy technology, it can be used effectively by those who need it. That includes making sure the population has the necessary training.His related initiatives so far include getting $1.16 billion in new federal funding to expand affordable, high-speed Internet access across the commonwealth, harnessing AI by the commonwealth’s own workforce by using text chatbot ChatGPT for their own work and working with Penn State University to help commonwealth agencies lead on general artificial intelligence (GAI) usage and governance.Pittsburgh as the center of the AI universeMore than 400 attendees converged on Bakery Square for the AI Horizons Summit, including heavy hitters from some of the leaders in AI including NVIDIA, Google, government agencies and investors from around the country.In breakout sessions, the topics centered on how to harness AI for diverse needs in nonprofit work, energy, education, city government, national security and financial services.“As we design AI in our medical education, we’re also making it scalable so that we can create flexible learning opportunities across the globe,” said Pitt’s Gabel. “And we’re translating this into K-12 education as we speak. “So this puts us in a position, because of these partnerships and these relationships, to lead the life sciences century right here from Pittsburgh.” A dog-like robot from Carnegie Robotics wandered around the AI Horizons Summit on Oct. 14. Video by David Radin.Local companies who have embraced AI were featured heavily in panels, including BNYMellon, Highmark and Duolingo, the East Liberty company whose market capitalization has grown to $12.6 billion in revenue and its workforce to more than 700 people by using AI to help users of its app.Shapiro notes, “The people who are working in the trades, the people who are working in the private sector are all benefiting from the extraordinary gains that we are making in this field, and we’re making sure that young people in Pennsylvania are getting a quality education so they can be prepared to take advantage of this important work that is happening here right now.”“Wonderful companies here in this community understand that if you’re a steamfitter in Pennsylvania, you’re now relying on AI a whole lot more than you were just a few years ago.”When we asked ChatGPT how steamfitters might use AI, the bot gave us examples including solving technical problems, learning how to practice their craft, doing calculations and measurements and writing reports.Sree Gadde, managing partner at BlueTree VC, a Pittsburgh-based fund that invests in AI companies, explains some of the skepticism around AI. “There’s a lot of hype around AI right now, but there is a lot of tension because it can be used for a lot of purposes. Pittsburgh, being at the crossroads of academic research and midwest ethos, brings some morals into the discussion.”Despite all the optimism in the room, attendees were well aware of the challenges that lie ahead for the region. According to Jerad Bachar, CEO of VisitPITTSBURGH, “The opportunities are infinite, but resources are finite, so we must continue to add resources to expand Brand Pittsburgh.”Some of that branding came naturally at the summit, as Pittsburgh references were scattered throughout the day, such as the black and gold hightops worn on stage by Chris Turner, Google’s head of knowledge and information products. NVIDIA’s Robbins joked about owning Baltimore Ravens season tickets, and Gabel closed her presentation with:“We want to say hail to possible, hail to possibilities and everything this new partnership will yield in turning innovative ideas into all of the things that are possible here. And of course, Hail to Pitt.”The post Pittsburgh aims to become AI capital with new university partnership appeared first on NEXTpittsburgh.