By Donald Gilpin
Launched in March of this year by Princeton University along with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), Microsoft, and CoreWeave, the NJ AI Hub is pursuing its mission of fostering the development of artificial intelligence (AI) in New Jersey through the collaboration of government, AI researchers, industry, and educational institutions.
Liat Krawczyk, former senior adviser at the U.S. Department of Commerce, in May was named the first executive director of the Hub, which is located on Alexander Road in West Windsor Township in space provided by Princeton University.
The AI Hub is looking to make New Jersey a national leader in AI by connecting companies to AI research and collaborations with research universities and promoting AI research and development.
The Hub is also committed to accelerating innovation, promoting start-up ventures, and providing necessary resources, mentoring, and access to capital.
Through its TechSpark program, Microsoft, as part of its investment in the NJ AI Hub, will be providing expertise and resources for promoting digital skills and employability and helping local organizations to adopt advances in technology.
In June the Hub co-hosted a gathering of state AI leaders, including Gov. Phil Murphy, to discuss how AI offers ways for government to be more efficient, effective, and transparent in a time of economic uncertainty, tight budgets, and slowed hiring.
More than 100 AI leaders from 25 states met at Princeton University to share ideas, including a focus on AI as a powerful tool to reduce the time government employees spend on manual tasks, to improve their engagement with citizens, and to use public data to increase rather than undermine equity.
In April the AI Hub held a summit for more than 500 leaders from government, business, and education, and since then continues to host frequent smaller gatherings.
“I’m excited to join such an expansive public-private partnership that’s setting precedent for what we need to see across the country,” said Krawczyk as quoted in a Princeton University press release. “At a time when AI’s disruptive impact is just beginning to be felt, I think it’s really important to proactively build toward what we want: to power the workforce for the AI era, drive transformative AI innovation for public benefit, and shape the future of responsible AI governance and innovation.”
Krawczyk’s career has focused on technology, economic development, and innovation. At the Department of Commerce she helped establish a $300 million workforce strategy to support the CHIPS Act’s $37 billion investment in semiconductors.
Before that Krawczyk was vice president of innovation industries at the NYC Economic Development Corporation. She founded the NYCEDC Childcare Innovation Lab and co-led Cyber NYC, a $100 million initiative to develop New York City’s cybersecurity system. She also worked as head of strategy for a machine learning real estate startup and founded an international education nonprofit.
“Liat Krawczyk brings to the NJ AI Hub a powerful combination of strategic vision, an ability to launch new initiatives, and demonstrated experience in building multi-sector partnerships,” said Princeton University Vice President and Secretary Hilary A. Parker. “I am confident that, under her leadership, the Hub will simultaneously help to advance some of the University’s highest strategic priorities and fulfill a shared vision that will have a transformative impact on our region.”
NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan echoed Parker’s praise for Krawczyk. “We are excited to welcome Liat Krawczyk as executive director of the Hub,” he said. “Her leadership will play a key role in advancing Governor Murphy’s mission to build upon the state’s legacy in technological innovation. Krawczyk’s background and experience will help keep New Jersey at the forefront of cutting-edge breakthroughs, leading to long-term, sustainable growth across the state.”
He added, “The NJ AI Hub is poised to position New Jersey as a national leader in the rapidly growing AI industry.”