TLDR: Governor Josh Shapiro is positioning Pennsylvania as a national leader in responsible Artificial Intelligence, highlighted by the upcoming AI Horizons Summit in Pittsburgh. The state is focusing on “Physical AI,” expanding AI tools across government, and has secured significant private investments, including a $20 billion commitment from Amazon, while also investing in workforce development.
Pittsburgh, PA – September 13, 2025 – Governor Josh Shapiro is actively cementing Pennsylvania’s status as a national frontrunner in the responsible development and deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI), a commitment underscored by the highly anticipated AI Horizons Summit in Pittsburgh. The summit, scheduled for September 11 and 12 at Bakery Square, with a startup competition kicking off on September 10, is set to be a pivotal event showcasing the state’s advancements in this transformative field.
The AI Horizons Summit 2025 will place a significant emphasis on ‘Physical AI,’ which integrates AI software with physical systems such such as robotics, autonomous vehicles, simulation, and embedded AI. Governor Shapiro, alongside Senator Dave McCormick, will headline the event, drawing attention to Pennsylvania’s innovative approach to AI that aims to solve complex problems, stimulate economic growth, and drive breakthroughs in human health. Industry leaders from prominent tech companies, including Gecko Robotics and Skild AI, are slated to attend, further solidifying the summit’s importance.
Joanna Doven, Executive Director of Pittsburgh’s AI Strike Team, the host of the summit, articulated the state’s ambitious vision. “From steel to AI, Pittsburgh has always built what the world needs next,” Doven stated. “With deep industrial roots, top-tier research institutions, and bipartisan leadership, we are positioned to become the Physical AI capital of the world. AI Horizons is where that vision becomes action.” She further emphasized, “We don’t just research AI here—we build it, deploy it, and power it. This is the next generation of industry, and just like we led with steel, we can lead again with AI.” Doven highlighted the rapid growth of Physical AI, noting, “This category didn’t exist five years ago. Today, it’s a $12.7 billion market. By 2030, it’s projected to reach $124 billion.” The summit will also feature ‘The Forge AI Pitch,’ a competition offering over $100,000 in prize money to promising startups, reinforcing Doven’s sentiment that “This isn’t a showcase of ideas — it’s a spotlight on real implementation.”
Pennsylvania’s leadership in AI is not a recent development. Under Governor Shapiro’s administration, the Commonwealth has been recognized as one of the top three states nationally for AI readiness, according to the July 2025 Code for America Government AI Landscape Assessment. The report lauded Pennsylvania’s comprehensive policies, robust governance, capacity-building initiatives, and pilot programs, all contributing to the safe, responsible, and effective use of generative AI.
A year prior, in October 2024, Governor Shapiro signed a groundbreaking Executive Order on generative AI, emphasizing its responsible and ethical application. Reflecting on this, Governor Shapiro remarked, “We need to lean into innovation and adapt to the changing tech environment while we continue to educate ourselves about new technology. That’s why last year, I signed an Executive Order to govern the use of generative artificial intelligence and take advantage of the opportunities this new technology presents to ensure our Commonwealth approaches generative AI responsibly and ethically.” This initiative has been bolstered by strategic partnerships, including the launch of the NVIDIA AI Tech Community in collaboration with Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh, aimed at fostering Pittsburgh’s innovation ecosystem in robotics, autonomy, and AI.
Economically, Pennsylvania has seen significant investment in the AI sector. Amazon has committed an initial investment of at least $20 billion to establish new AI and cloud computing campuses across the Commonwealth, a move expected to generate high-tech and construction jobs. This forms part of over $25 billion in private investment secured under Governor Shapiro’s leadership, which has already created nearly 11,000 new jobs. To support this burgeoning industry and its workforce, the Commonwealth is also investing $10 million to expand statewide workforce training, vocational-technical education, and career and technical education (CTE).
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The AI Horizons Summit and the broader state initiatives underscore Pennsylvania’s proactive strategy to harness AI’s potential, ensuring both innovation and responsible governance as it expands AI tools across state government and beyond.
