From Sacramento to Silicon Valley - A Year of AI Collaboration and Progress
Welcome to SV-AI (Silicon Valley - Accelerates Innovation), my newsletter focused on the responsible development and deployment of innovations strengthening California's global competitive edge. Please subscribe to receive upcoming editions. Here, I’ll share tech policy news and leadership insights that you need to know and how technologies, like Artificial Intelligence, are being used IRL. In this edition, I’ll reflect on what has been a monumental year for AI and recap some of our most exciting AI-focused work!
AI 101
As 2024 draws to a close, my final edition of SV-AI for the year will reflect on what has been a monumental period for artificial intelligence.?
With Silicon Valley and the greater Bay Area at the forefront of this transformative technology, we have seen AI continue to scale and propel our nation’s innovation economy forward at unprecedented speeds.
Collaboration and partnership continue to be at the heart of Silicon Valley’s success in developing AI technology. Earlier this month, SVLG hosted our Annual Forum at Levi’s Stadium, gathering hundreds of technology leaders and elected officials to reflect on both the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for California’s innovation ecosystem.
I was grateful to share the stage for fireside chats with the dynamic leaders who champion our regional economy, and I’m truly optimistic about what lies ahead for California and innovation, more broadly.
As we close out a successful and very busy 2024, here’s my look back at what this year meant for SVLG’s work on AI.
California’s top lawmakers and industry leaders convened on Sacramento Advocacy Day
In March, SVLG held its annual Sacramento Advocacy Day, bringing lawmakers and industry leaders together on the responsible development and deployment of AI technologies.
The event, hosted by SVLG’s Institute for California AI Policy (I-CAP), featured compelling discussions on how lawmakers can advance balanced and responsible policy solutions that ensure California remains a hub for global AI innovation.
To best inform policy development, open dialogue between private industry, policymakers, and technology experts is crucial. In the new year, I look forward to continuing these discussions with both our industry and government partners both in Sacramento and beyond.
Read more about my takeaways from this year’s AI-focused Sacramento Advocacy Day here.
I-CAP introduced its first-ever AI Fellowship Program
This year, we launched I-CAP’s first-ever AI Fellowship Program.?
The program’s objectives were two-fold:
Alongside educators at Foothill College and DeAnza College, two graduate researchers –? Akshay Mendon and Hamed Honari, PhD. — spearheaded the development of a new STEM curriculum focused on AI and machine learning.?
Going forward, the curriculum will help students from diverse backgrounds be well-prepared for the evolving job market and help them access greater workforce opportunities.?
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Education is a key element of growing our state’s innovation economy, and as this fellowship progresses, I can’t wait to see its impact. My view is that the benefits of AI jobs can (and will) be wide-spread, but we must be intentional about affording early opportunities to not only those with advanced degrees given the plethora of roles needed to scale these technologies.?
SVLG’s first AI-centered Sustainable Growth Summit
In the summer, SVLG held our first AI-centered Sustainable Growth Summit, an opportunity to discuss how new infrastructure can sustainably power AI and technology development in the Golden State. The event facilitated discussions on economic innovation and statewide sustainability goals alongside leading environmental experts, industry leaders, and policymakers.??
It was clear throughout the summit that California remains a national leader in sustainability and climate protection. Distinguished speakers emphasized the leading role of the Golden State in advancing next-generation climate solutions.
And, our industry experts shared strategies for enhancing environmental stability within data centers, which remain crucial to scale and develop modern AI infrastructure, cloud computing, and emergency services.
Above all, the goals of minimizing environmental impact and maintaining community well-being should remain at the forefront of our region’s innovation ecosystem, even as we move quickly to bolster our AI capabilities.
A landmark summit on AI with industry leaders, policymakers, and experts
In September, SVLG hosted its second annual Tech and Innovation Summit at Amazon’s East Palo Alto campus. The summit, titled “Igniting Innovation: Driving the Next Tech Revolution,” explored the development of responsible AI innovation.
There, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo gave a virtual address that emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships in aligning AI development with wider societal goals and values. Additionally, we heard from industry leaders on how AI is reshaping the workplace, driving progress and efficiency across sectors.
The summit concluded with a fireside chat between Dee Dee Myers, a Senior Advisor to the Governor and Director of GO-Biz, and Ossa Fisher, the President of Aurora. Their conversation provided valuable insights into the role of women business leaders in shaping the AI and tech landscape.
The conversations were another great opportunity to connect with leaders, share goals, and address the most impactful developments in Silicon Valley’s innovation economy.
Final thoughts
As we head into 2025, I wanted to leave you with one last bit of AI news: Governor Newsom recently announced that California will move into the procurement stage of incorporating generative AI products into the state’s operations.
Generative AI, per StateScoop, will help California address challenges like housing, unemployment, and budgeting. A new state website has more details, including specific statewide projects on issues like roadway safety and language access.?
The move caps off an exciting year for California’s leading economy and AI innovators. With more new developments on the horizon, I can’t wait to build on this momentum in 2025.
I hope the holidays have treated you all very well. Wishing you all a happy, healthy, and high impact 2025!
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