Academics, employers, and state legislators convened in Pittsburgh to discuss the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on Pennsylvania’s economy. The joint public hearing was organized by Sen. Tracy Pennycuick (R-24) with participation from the Senate Majority Policy Committee, led by Sen. Dave Argall (R-29), and the House Republican Policy Committee, under Rep. David Rowe (R-85).
Industry representatives from healthcare, banking, and aerospace sectors in Pittsburgh highlighted how AI is transforming their operations. The hearing also addressed challenges related to Pennsylvania’s electric grid and energy policies, which are seen as obstacles to advancing the AI economy.
“Pennsylvania has a remarkable opportunity to leverage cutting-edge developments in artificial intelligence to spur investment and revolutionize our economy,” said Sen. Pennycuick. She chairs the Senate Communications and Technology Committee.
Rep. Rowe emphasized the unique position of Pennsylvania to address energy challenges, noting, “As the testifiers validated, AI is placing unprecedented pressure on our electric grid.”
Ken Zapinski, representing Pittsburgh Works Together, stressed the need for more power plants and proposed using industrial sites with existing infrastructure to overcome these challenges. He underscored the importance of minimizing permitting and development hurdles.
Dr. Hooman Rashidi from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine presented innovations by the Computational Pathology and AI Center of Excellence (CPACE). The center deploys AI to enhance diagnostics and reporting in health sciences, focusing on AI literacy and training healthcare workers.
Dr. Andrew Horchler, from Astrobotic Technology, Inc., spoke about AI’s role in space exploration. He explained its importance in enabling autonomous operations and decision-making in space.
Dr. Bruno Abreu of the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center detailed AI’s application in preventing infrastructure issues, such as rail buckling and breaks, thereby improving safety.
The public hearing was held at the headquarters of Astrobotic Technology, Inc.
