Exclusive: AI caucus crops up in the Midwest, South
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A nonprofit focused on growing the Midwest's economy is launching an AI caucus on Tuesday to try to drive innovation and create job opportunities.
Why it matters: The Midwest is becoming an epicenter of data center construction and proponents of AI think the tech could boost the region's manufacturing and agricultural sectors.
- Policymakers are trying to figure out how to ensure the workforce is ready to meet the demands of the changing economy and benefit from AI.
Driving the news: Nonprofit Heartland Forward, which has a goal of generating $500 million of economic impact to the region by 2030, is launching the Heartland AI Caucus, per a press release shared with Axios.
- The caucus will be made up of a bipartisan group of state legislators and chief innovation officers from Arkansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Ohio, Oklahoma and Tennessee, with plans to expand across the region.
- Arkansas state Senate President Pro Tempore Bart Hester will lead the caucus.
The caucus will work to identify AI policy priorities and develop model legislation for "responsible AI adoption," focusing on innovation, small businesses, education, workforce and health, per the press release.
- Other goals include strengthening the AI talent pipeline and convening regional leaders to share ideas and challenges.
Context: The AI caucus will be announced during an event co-hosted by Heartland Forward and the Rockefeller Foundation to discuss health and wellness, defense, and economic growth.
- The caucus received funding from Google.org, the tech giant's philanthropic arm, to expand access to AI skills, the press release notes.
What they're saying: Heartland Forward said it will support the caucus by providing policy insights and research.
- For example, one of their recent polls showed that while 71% of respondents in the 20 states the organization represents believe employers should offer AI training, fewer than 1% report feeling proficient with AI tools in the workplace.
