Microsoft’s announcement Wednesday that it would invest $3.3 billion in an artificial intelligence data center in southeastern Wisconsin has already produced ripples throughout the state.
Thursday, TitletownTech officials talked about their commitment to help develop a manufacturing-focused AI Co-Innovation Lab at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
“I think the important thing about the AI lab is that it’s not just going to be exploring education and learning, though that’s always part of it; it’s really about creating something using AI that solves meaningful problems for manufacturers, for the marketplace,” said TitletownTech Managing Director Craig Dickman. “So what really makes it special is that companies are going to be able to create in this lab and come out with things that hopefully will fundamentally change their business, make them more competitive and in total, make the Wisconsin economy more competitive globally.”
Dickman said such innovation will make Wisconsin a beacon for manufacturing innovation that will be attractive to investors and talented people.
“When we opened we knew that part of the focus was going to be on manufacturing, because Wisconsin is extraordinary at making things,” Dickman said. “What we’re really doing now is doubling down on the foundational partnerships that have been created, focus that’s been built, talent that’s emerged.”
He said the Green Bay Packers under the leadership of CEO Mark Murphy were a catalyst for TitletownTech, which is a collaboration between Microsoft and the NFL franchise.
Murphy called the AI lab a game changer for manufacturing in the state and lauded the Co-Innovation Lab partnership for connecting private businesses with higher education.
The lab is expected to serve 270 companies by 2030, including 135 manufacturing businesses. Microsoft also said it intends to train 3,000 local AI software developers.
“There are seven AI labs in the world, and this will be only the third one in the United States and the only one in the country that is not on one of the coasts,” Murphy said, adding that it builds on the Packers’ commitment to the state.
Dickman said there has been rapidly growing interest in artificial intelligence; now there will also be opportunity.
“If we’re going to be on the leading edge of the manufacturing economy,” he said, “we’ve got to be on the leading edge of technology that is driving the economy as well.”
