Why is AI Important to Downtown Pittsburgh?
Written by Arlo Grey MacFarland
Artificial intelligence (AI) is taking over the technology landscape. With it making great strides in the medical field, and further computer research, it has easily cemented its place in our society within just a few short years. As defined by Britannica, artificial intelligence is “the ability of a digital computer or computer-controlled robot to perform tasks commonly associated with intelligent beings.”
Pittsburgh is at the forefront of the rise of AI, ranking among the top 10 cities for technology and AI development. Courtesy of the advanced programs at the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), Pittsburgh is leading the way for the future of technology. For example, CMU is the number one-ranked university program for AI development in the world, offering a Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence. They are the leading institute for AI education, and their intelligent graduates are going to be on the cutting edge of this technology.
Pittsburgh has always been a hub for technological development. From the first national radio station, KDKA, in 1920, to Carnegie Mellon students creating the first emoticon in 1982, to now, where numerous Big Tech companies are hosted in the city. Google and Duolingo have called this city home for years now, and more companies are constantly emerging.
With all of these emerging AI companies, Pittsburgh is the perfect place to host their development facilities– especially downtown. With the glut of office space downtown, we believe that we can move these companies into buildings such as Penn Avenue Place, at the corner of Penn Ave. and Stanwix St., or the Catholic Charities building at the corner of 9th St. and Liberty Ave. These places may offer spaces to said companies for a discounted price. Doing this brings more businesses into the downtown area, which can subsequently increase foot traffic during the days and evenings as well.
Linking back to the Downtown Neighbors Alliance’s (DNA) Liberty Avenue Project, bringing these AI companies to downtown can activate the streets. Restaurants, shops, and other businesses will see increased customer rates and bring more money into the downtown economy. As these AI businesses seek office space, downtown Pittsburgh offers both great real estate and connections to all kinds of local businesses outside of the tech industry. Then, not only will these businesses reside in downtown Pittsburgh, but the workers can also move into housing in the area, too, increasing the downtown population while boosting the economy.
If Pittsburgh stays on its current track, the city is on its way to becoming a major tech hub in the region. With its rich history of technological developments and rapidly growing AI research, Pittsburgh is primed for the next generation of engineers and entrepreneurs to build their ideas. The future of AI is already here, and downtown Pittsburgh is ready for it.
