The investment could be worth millions of dollars over a three-year period, and city officials say Google’s financial support is evidence that its vision for the AI center to support workforce training, testing of new ideas and working with businesses of all sizes is on the right track.
“This shows the importance that even the biggest, most scientific, most leading-edge technology companies see something like what we are trying to do here — unlock the value of AI for our residents, for the corporate citizens, for the schools — is very much in demand right now,” Jeff Auker, Hartford’s director of development services, said.
The technology also could be a strong component supporting revitalization in a city like Hartford, Auker said.
Google made the offer in a June 2 letter to Gov. Ned Lamont and Daniel O’Keefe, the state’s commissioner of economic and community development.
“Google is proud to be a founding technology and infrastructure partner for the (Connecticut) Applied AI Center — Connecticut’s flagship initiative to accelerate AI innovation, workforce readiness and equitable economic opportunity statewide,” Google’s director of public sector sales, Mike Williams, wrote in the letter.
Google could not be reached immediately for further comment.
Earlier this year, Google and Charter Oak State College announced a free online course for adults to learn about AI and how it is expected to dramatically reshape the workplace.
Hartford is among three finalists — along with New Haven and Stamford — seeking funding from the state’s $100 million “Innovation Clusters” program. The program seeks to promote the expansion of next-generation technology such as AI and quantum computing that are expected to drive future economic development and job growth.
A decision on how the funding will be carved up is now expected in late summer.
DECD declined to comment because it is still reviewing the finalist applications.
The city estimates the AI center — proposed for the site of a rundown, former data processing center just east of Dunkin’ Park — would cost an estimated, $90 million. The city has said it is confident it will have lined up the balance for the AI Center not covered by the Innovation Clusters grant. The city has declined to identify those sources of funding.
“The discussions with Google have been focused on securing access for the Hartford AI innovation center to the relevant and required computing infrastructure or AI research, development and training on Google clouds,” Vahid Behzadan, associate professor of computer science and data science at the University of New Haven, said.
Behzadan, a founding member of theConnecticut AI Alliance, participated in the discussions with Google.
The consortium — a group of 19 academic institutions, seven associations, and nonprofit agencies — seeks to advance the development, use and impact of AI across Connecticut. The alliance is focused on business development, workforce training, policy discussions and community access. The consortium’s goal is make Connecticut a premier hub for AI innovation.
Behzadan said one of the key benefits of the technology supported by Google and its coming together at the applied AI center would be access.
It would ensure “that access to to AI is increasingly provided,” Behzadan said. “And it’s not just available to those that can afford it.”
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