The partnership, which will provide Intel-based AI PCs and hands-on learning experiences for underserved youth and seniors, aims to address the widening digital divide as AI becomes essential for education and workforce skills, according to a recent news release from NWN.
“Our journey here began with a bold idea several years ago: to use AI to help modernize the city's 911 system,” NWN's Chief Marketing Officer Andrew Gilman said. “That project sparked a deeper commitment to this community, notably hosting the world's first AI Athletics Day last summer and now into a meaningful collaboration with Baltimore Recreation and Parks.”
According to a news release from Intel, difficulty accessing technology is commonplace for many people in the Baltimore area. Over 27 percent of households in Greenmount East do not have Internet access, in addition to 22 percent of adults who did not attain a high school diploma or equivalent in said neighborhood, Intel said.
“This lab represents more than just access to powerful tools — it empowers students and seniors with the skills they need to thrive in a digital world,” NWN President and CEO Jim Sullivan said in a public statement.
In addition to technology, the lab also allows access to a tailored curriculum to help build AI literacy, Mayor Scott said in the release.
“It’s designed to make advanced skills and digital creativity accessible to everyone,” Gilman said in a public statement. “To the East Baltimore community, this AI lab is your space. Use it to learn, to build, and to imagine.”
Baltimore’s partnership with two leading tech companies is only the latest of many examples of municipal governments devoting public resources to building digital and AI literacy in recent years. In 2024, for example, the Amarillo Public Library in Texas launched a digital literacy initiative, which was also intended to boost broadband coverage. According to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, as of 2022, only 60 percent of Amarillo residents had Internet connectivity at the time.
In Intel’s news release, Gilman said he was excited to see high interest in AI Athletics Day at the Greenmount Recreation Center in June 2024.
“What I love about what we did together as a partnership is that we set the groundwork for answering ‘What is AI?’ ‘How does it work?’ and ‘How can we get our kids learning and inspired by AI?’” he said in a public statement.
