When Alabama established the Alabama Supercomputer Authority in 1989 during Governor Guy Hunt’s administration, it was a bold move.
Few states invested in public computing infrastructure at that scale.
That early decision paid off, supporting research, education, and economic development for decades. Today, Alabama has a similar opportunity with artificial intelligence.
In February 2024, Governor Ivey formed a Generative AI Task Force to address how the state should implement and govern AI systems.
The Task Force delivered a comprehensive report in November with solid recommendations: adopt national AI risk management standards, improve procurement processes, develop training programs, and coordinate across agencies. It was important groundwork.
Now comes the harder part: implementation. The report identified what needs to happen.
What Alabama needs next is someone to make it happen, and the resources to do it. The good news? We already have most of what we need.
Alabama’s hidden AI advantage
Huntsville brings together world-class technical talent around major research and engineering anchors like NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and Redstone Arsenal, alongside concentrations of private sector defense contractors and aerospace firms.
The Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering, also in Huntsville, graduates high school students with world-class computer science and technical skills.
Auburn University runs the AI@AU initiative with degree programs including an M.S. in AI Engineering. The University of Alabama launched the Alabama Center for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (ALA-AI) to unify research and education across campus with explicit focus on industry collaboration.
UAB operates an informatics research center focused on AI approaches and runs the Heersink AI Founders Club supporting early-stage AI startups with a healthcare innovation focus. These aren’t abstract research labs, they’re programs designed to connect students and faculty to real-world applications.
While best known for genomics, HudsonAlpha has deep AI-adjacent capacity through its computational biology and computational analysis teams.
This isn’t theoretical capacity. These are working researchers, trained students, and functioning programs across the state. The challenge isn’t finding talent or building infrastructure from scratch. It’s connecting what exists to state needs.
Right now, these resources operate independently.
State agencies struggle with AI questions while world-class technical expertise sits unused. University researchers work on projects while state government faces problems they could help solve. Students graduate and leave Alabama because opportunities exist elsewhere.
This is a coordination problem, not a resource problem.
What Alabama should do
Alabama doesn’t need another task force or more studies. It needs a public-private partnership approach with three concrete steps:
First, appoint a State AI Coordinator reporting directly to the Governor’s Office. Not a committee. Not a board. One person whose job is activating Alabama’s AI capacity.
This person identifies pilot opportunities, builds partnerships with universities, technical institutions, and the private sector, helps state agencies adopt AI into their workflows, and reports progress quarterly.
At the federal level, President Trump designated a White House AI Czar (David Sacks) to coordinate AI policy across federal agencies. Alabama needs a similar coordinating function to connect agencies, universities, and industry.
Second, launch pilot programs through public-private partnerships using Alabama talent. Start with one agency, one specific workflow, one measurable outcome.
Partner with university researchers, Huntsville’s technical community, or private sector partners to design and implement a solution. Document what works, what fails, and what other agencies can learn. This builds institutional knowledge instead of vendor dependency.
Third, create formal partnerships with Alabama’s existing technical capacity.
Establish internship programs with the Alabama School of Cyber Technology so students work on state AI projects. Create advisory relationships with Huntsville’s technical community. Partner with university faculty on pilots. Host quarterly convenings where agency staff learn from technical experts.
These relationships cost little but require someone to coordinate them.
The investment case
Initial funding might include:
- State AI Coordinator and small staff: $400,000-$600,000 annually
- Pilot program budgets: $200,000-$300,000
- University partnerships and internships: $100,000
- Training development: $150,000
Total first-year cost: approximately $1 million, less than 0.01% of Alabama’s general fund budget.
This seed funding proves the concept and shows returns. Successful pilots justify expansion. It also positions Alabama to compete for federal grants and private partnerships that require state commitment.
More importantly, the cost of inaction is higher. Alabama develops technical talent through world-world institutions, then loses that talent to states creating opportunities to use it. Every year we delay is another cohort of graduates seeking careers elsewhere.
Alabama as first investor
Alabama should think about AI coordination the way an investor thinks about a startup. The state makes the first investment, proving the concept and unlocking additional resources.
Returns benefit all Alabamians: more efficient government services, stronger partnerships between state agencies and technical institutions, economic development opportunities, and retained talent.
The alternative is watching other states activate similar resources while Alabama’s capacity sits disconnected and underutilized.
Alabama has the talent, the institutions, and the precedent of successful technology leadership.
What we need now is the coordination and modest investment to put it all together. The Task Force laid the foundation. It’s time to build.
Sawyer Knowles is a former Governmental Affairs Director with seven years of state government experience in legislative affairs and policy analysis. He writes about AI policy and governance.
