PITTSBURGH – Academics, employers, and state legislators gathered in Pittsburgh today at the invitation of Sen. Tracy Pennycuick (R-24) for a joint public hearing of the Senate Majority Policy Committee, chaired by Sen. Dave Argall (R-29), and the House Republican Policy Committee, chaired by Rep. David Rowe (R-85), about the opportunities presented by artificial intelligence (AI) to reshape and grow Pennsylvania’s economy.
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.
“Pennsylvania has a remarkable opportunity to leverage cutting-edge developments in artificial intelligence to spur investment and revolutionize our economy,” said Pennycuick, who chairs the Senate Communications and Technology Committee. “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.”
“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 Rowe. “As an energy powerhouse, Pennsylvania is uniquely positioned to lead in this moment.”
Ken Zapinski, the director of research and public policy for Pittsburgh Works Together, noted that addressing the problems facing our electrical grid is key to Pennsylvania seizing the opportunities presented by AI. He advised that the Commonwealth build more power plants which provide electricity around the clock, 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, the 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. Their AI innovations are enabling faster diagnosis and reporting and empowering clinicians with AI-assisted tools at the point of care. They also heavily focus on AI literacy and making this emerging technology accessible by crafting educational courses that train healthcare workers without technical expertise in how to effectively use AI to care for patients.
Dr. Andrew Horchler, the chief research officer of Astrobotic Technology, Inc., detailed how AI is becoming essential to deep space exploration, noting that it “empowers spacecraft, landers, and rovers to perform autonomously, efficiently, and safely in remote and extreme environments” and is essential to real-time decision-making, hazard avoidance, and data prioritization. The public hearing was hosted at Astrobotic’s headquarters.
Dr. Bruno Abreu, the deputy scientific director for the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center, shared how researchers at the University of Pittsburgh utilized AI to prevent buckling or breaks in railways, improving safety in this key Pennsylvania industry.
“Artificial intelligence is the future,” said Argall. “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.”
CONTACT: Jim Brugger (Argall)
Lidia DiFiore (Pennycuick)
Nancy Nilson (Rowe)