What comes to mind when you think of the cities on the leading edge of technological innovation? You likely thought of Silicon Valley, San Francisco, Boston, and New York, which have been the centers of tech innovation for decades. However, that dynamic is quickly changing.
As tech talent continues to transition away from these major cities, we are seeing new opportunities for communities in other parts of the country, including here in Georgia, to become significant centers for innovation. In the past, people moved to where the jobs were; today, it’s companies moving to where the people are in innovation hubs such as Atlanta. This shift opens the door for the Peach State to take the lead in hosting the research and development of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI).
Georgia is well-equipped to take on this role. Thanks to the support of state and local leaders including the collaboration between Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, Georgia has excelled at making itself the widely recognized top destination for business, opening the door for a flourishing economy fueled by technological innovation. These efforts have culminated in our state being home to more than 14,000 tech companies staffed by 280,000 tech professionals that generate over $50 billion in direct economic impact. Georgia is forecasted to create another 100,000 new tech jobs by 2033, bringing the total to almost half a million full-time tech workers.
As one of the most diverse states in the U.S., this growing innovative strength is fueled by our incredibly diverse workforce –supported by our leading academic institutions like Georgia Tech, which has more graduates working in AI than any other school in the country.
While our state has made a strong case to become the next home for AI innovation, we must be mindful of two continuing objectives: AI upskilling and maintaining a regulatory environment that welcomes innovation.
Despite our state’s universities’ leading role in cultivating the next generation of AI innovators, there is an emerging skills gap in the rest of the workforce. National studies have shown that while 86% of frontline employees believe they will need AI training, only 14% have received it.
Recognizing this gap, the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) offers specialized certification courses to meet the growing demand for AI skills. Through our TAG-Ed program, we offer several hands-on courses that provide students with direct experiences with machine learning, data analysis, and the integration of AI into cloud computing.
Meanwhile, our partnership with Georgia Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing (Georgia AIM) has allowed us to create new workforce development initiatives for equitably cultivating AI talent, particularly in the manufacturing sector. We also launched Georgia’s first-ever registered tech apprenticeship program earlier this year specifically to help individuals looking to enter into the tech workforce.
Solutions like these reiterate that one does not need a four-year degree to work with AI, and our organization is determined to help students from all backgrounds prepare to leverage it to their advantage in their careers.
Yet, while our organization and others are working to address the AI skills gap through upskilling programs, if we want to see our state become an AI innovation hub, our lawmakers also play a crucial role. Hastily passed AI regulations could chill innovation and shun investment opportunities by creating onerous burdens for AI developers and deployers.
Bearing this in mind, when state lawmakers return to the capitol next year, I urge them to continue exploring the potential for AI and approach the technology with level heads and open minds.
