The state was an early implementer of AI policy and AI training for government workers. Since then, officials have been accelerating AI investment in the state centered on an economic approach.
The new MOU seeks to create a statewide framework to increase partnership between government, research universities, community colleges, the New Jersey AI Hub (NJ AI Hub), and NVIDIA to advance education, workforce development and research.
“With the MOU that we’re celebrating and signing this morning, we’re going to ensure that NVIDIA and the great Garden State grow to new heights together for many years to come,” Murphy said in his final press conference.
The memorandum is intended to last “a long time,” Murphy said. He has been working with Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill to finalize the agreement as he prepares to close out his term as governor. Sherrill’s inauguration is set for Tuesday.
The goal is to maximize AI’s benefits, especially regarding economic development, while mitigating the risk of negative impacts posed by the technology, NVIDIA co-founder Chris Malachowsky said during the press conference. To avoid negative impacts of AI, he underlined the importance of teaching people “how to be augmented by AI, not replaced by it.”
Rutgers University President William Tate called the MOU “the first step in a very important process,” emphasizing that it will create opportunity to further integrate AI into the work of higher education institutions.
One priority of the partnership, Tate said, is to help students develop the career and job skills necessary for economic development as AI reshapes the workforce.
Friday’s announcement marks the launch of a collaborative agreement and, in a related development, Murphy said the state is “putting money on the table,” citing the state Legislature’s approval of a $25 million investment to support a statewide supercomputer initiative for higher education institutions. This move aims to support students, researchers and entrepreneurs as they explore the possibilities unlocked by AI. Such a supercomputer, he said, is not something out of science fiction but, rather, could be an “engine” to power new AI platforms.
As Murphy announced these investments in the future of AI, he reflected on his administration’s legacy with this technology, including the AI Hub, which is one of 12 strategic innovation centers launched across the state over the past few years to support emerging technology areas like fintech, aerospace and life sciences.
“And I would suspect that there will be a lot of cross-pollination in terms of AI applications across these various entities,” Murphy said.
He touted the AI Moonshot effort to pioneer AI breakthroughs over the next decade and the New Jersey Innovation Evergreen Fund, which supports entrepreneurship.
New Jersey is not the first state to partner with NVIDIA as part of an AI advancement strategy. In 2024, California partnered with NVIDIA on AI in schools. Utah teamed with the company in March to advance AI education, and Mississippi partnered with it in July to support the technology’s advancement.
Education-sector representatives joining Murphy at the press conference included Tate, New Jersey Institute of Technology President Teik Lim, Princeton University Assistant Vice President of State Affairs David Reiner, Stevens Institute of Technology Director of Corporate, Government, and Community Relations Greg Townsend, New Jersey Council of County Colleges President Aaron Fichtner, and NJ AI Hub Executive Director Liat Krawczyk. Each organization is a signatory to the MOU.
