In a significant move to enhance educational opportunities and prepare for a future driven by technology, Mississippi has agreed to a partnership with Nvidia, a renowned technology company, to develop artificial intelligence (AI) training and research across the state’s educational institutions. This initiative is part of Governor Tate Reeves’ vision to equip students with the necessary skills to thrive in an AI-driven global economy, and it was officially announced on Wednesday.
The collaboration is laid out in a nonbinding memorandum of understanding, marking an important step towards integrating AI programs into community colleges, universities, and technical schools throughout Mississippi. The ambitious plan targets training at least 10,000 residents with a curriculum centered on AI skills, machine learning, and data science. This development places Mississippi alongside states such as Utah, California, and Oregon, which have already embarked on similar journeys with Nvidia.
Gov. Reeves expressed enthusiasm, stating, “This partnership with Nvidia is transformative for Mississippi. By fostering AI education and promoting workforce development, we open paths to promising careers in AI and cybersecurity for our residents, shaping the economic landscape for years to come.”
While the agreement doesn’t provide tax incentives to Nvidia, Gov. Reeves assured that state funding would be allocated to support this initiative. He did not anticipate the need for an extraordinary legislative session to secure the necessary funds and mentioned that while the overall cost is still under review, the state is committed to investing the resources required to meet its training objectives.
Support for this endeavor may come in part from $9.1 million in grants recently announced under the Mississippi AI Talent Accelerator Program. These grants are intended to boost the capabilities of higher learning institutions in the state.
Nvidia, known for designing and supplying graphics processing units (GPUs), will focus its efforts in Mississippi on educating individuals in the use of GPUs. With growing demand for their semiconductors essential for AI applications, Nvidia stands as the world’s leading chipmaker, having announced initiatives to build AI supercomputers domestically for the first time earlier this year.
Louis Stewart, who leads Nvidia’s strategic initiatives for the global developer ecosystem, highlighted the broader ambitions behind this program to reinforce the United States’ position as a leader in artificial intelligence. “Through this alliance, we are driving economic growth with an AI-trained workforce. We’ll advance research and industry partnerships, establishing Mississippi as a nucleus for AI innovation, benefitting its communities,” Stewart said.