A new statewide AI initiative will enhance Utah’s technology-based workforce training and economic development.

In early December, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and University of Utah President Taylor Randall signed a memorandum of understanding for a new education initiative with NVIDIA, designed to democratize AI access across communities.

“AI will continue to grow in importance, affecting every sector of Utah’s economy. We need to prepare our students and faculty for this technological revolution,” said Utah Gov. Spencer Cox. “Working with NVIDIA is an ideal path to help ensure that Utah is positioned for AI growth in the near and long term.”

The public-private partnership aims to equip universities, community colleges and adult education programs across Utah with the resources to develop students’ and workers’ skills in generative AI. Under the terms of the agreement, Utah teachers will be able to be certified through the NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute University Ambassador Program.

The program offers high-quality teaching kits, extensive workshop content and access to NVIDIA GPU-accelerated workstations in the cloud. In addition to AI, Utah teachers will be able to study accelerated computing, data science and more—enriching their course curriculum and classroom discussions and giving students the skills they need to be prepared for the workplaces of the future.

The MOU is an important part of Utah elected and education leaders’ broader effort to foster a tech-savvy workforce and position the state as a leader in AI innovation and application. The initiative benefits new graduates just entering the job market as well as professionals hoping to upskill, enabling them to expand their skillsets beyond community college or adult education courses.

“Our proactive approach to equipping teachers and students with the latest resources and training they need to prepare for the workplaces of the future will boost our state’s competitive edge in technology education and development,” said Taylor Randall, university president.

The initiative aligns with the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce’s Utah Rising economic development plan. The plan’s six signature projects include advancing the U’s Responsible AI Initiative.

“We believe that AI education is more than a pathway to innovation—it’s a foundation for solving some of the world’s most pressing challenges,” said Manish Parashar, chief AI officer and director of the University of Utah Scientific Computing and Imaging (SCI) Institute, which leads the One-U Responsible AI Initiative. “By equipping students and researchers with the tools to explore, understand, and create with AI, we empower them to be able to drive advancements in medicine, engineering, and beyond.”

NVIDIA is already engaged in multiple projects across Utah to make AI more accessible and comprehensible to students. These education initiatives and industry collaborations span fields including biotechnology and life sciences, advanced manufacturing, and media and entertainment. The goal is to enable individuals to harness AI to enhance their productivity and drive innovation in their respective fields.

At the same time, state agencies will be developing internship and apprenticeship programs that offer students hands-on experience with AI skills, helping bridge the gap between education and industry needs.

“With AI revolutionizing industries worldwide, it’s critical to prepare current and future workforces with the right skills and training,” said Greg Estes, vice president of corporate marketing and developer programs at NVIDIA. “Through this AI education initiative with NVIDIA, Utah can foster innovation, improve economic growth and prepare students to tackle today’s most pressing challenges.”