Pennsylvania Republican legislators in both state houses held a joint public hearing on April 16 to examine the opportunities presented by artificial intelligence (AI) to reshape and grow the commonwealth’s economy.
“Pennsylvania has a remarkable opportunity to leverage cutting-edge developments in artificial intelligence to spur investment and revolutionize our economy,” State Sen. Tracy Pennycuick (R-24), chair of the Pennsylvania Senate Communications and Technology Committee, said Wednesday. “Today’s hearing will help shape the General Assembly’s approach as we look to promote, expand, and strategically harness AI technology for the benefit of our entire commonwealth.”
Academics and employers joined the state legislators in Pittsburgh for the hearing. Pittsburgh employers in the healthcare, banking, and aerospace industries described how they are using AI to evolve their operations. The final panel discussed how Pennsylvania’s electric grid challenges and unfriendly energy policies present the biggest barrier to further developing the AI economy, according to staff.
“As the testifiers validated, AI is placing unprecedented pressure on our electric grid, raising important questions about energy capacity, reliability, and long-term planning,” said State Rep. David Rowe (R-85), chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee. “As an energy powerhouse, Pennsylvania is uniquely positioned to lead in this moment.”
Ken Zapinski, director of research and public policy for Pittsburgh Works Together, noted that addressing the problems facing the electrical grid is key to Pennsylvania seizing the opportunities presented by AI.
He advised that the state build more power plants, which provide 24/7/365 electricity, take advantage of old industrial sites that have access to existing gas and electric infrastructure, and minimize permitting and development hurdles to move at the speed of business.
Dr. Hooman Rashidi, executive director of the Computational Pathology and AI Center of Excellence (CPACE) and associate dean of AI in Medicine for the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, described CPACE’s industry-leading work to deploy AI in health sciences.
AI innovations at CPACE are enabling faster diagnosis and reporting and empowering clinicians with AI-assisted tools at the point of care, Rashidi said.
Likewise, AI is becoming essential to deep space exploration, according to Andrew Horchler, chief research officer of Astrobotic Technology.
It “empowers spacecraft, landers, and rovers to perform autonomously, efficiently, and safely in remote and extreme environments,” Horchler said, and is essential to real-time decision-making, hazard avoidance, and data prioritization.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh are also utilizing AI to prevent buckling or breaks in railways, improving safety in this key Pennsylvania industry, said Bruno Abreu, deputy scientific director for the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center.
“Artificial intelligence is the future,” said State Sen. Dave Argall (R-29). “Today’s testimony from the experts at the forefront of this emerging industry is crucial as we prepare Pennsylvania to effectively harness this world-changing technology.”