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The basics:

• Murphy’s final major announcement focused on AI
• State, Nvidia and colleges formed a unified AI research partnership
• New Jersey commits $25M to a statewide AI supercomputer
• Initiative targets AI education, workforce development and innovation

For the final time as New Jersey’s 56th governor, Phil Murphy stepped before reporters to mark what he described as the last major announcement of his administration — and a fitting capstone to eight years in office.

Speaking Jan. 16 at the Gateway Center in Newark, Murphy oversaw the signing of an agreement between the State of New Jersey, Nvidia, and a consortium of the state’s colleges and universities aimed at accelerating artificial intelligence research, education and workforce development.

The pact brings together state government, a technology giant, the NJ AI Hub, research universities and community colleges under a unified framework designed to share AI infrastructure, expand research capacity, and align education and training with the needs of a rapidly evolving economy. As part of the initiative, New Jersey is committing $25 million toward the development of a statewide AI supercomputer.

Murphy said the collaboration reflects a core priority of his administration since day one: restoring New Jersey’s standing as a global center for cutting-edge technology while ensuring the benefits of innovation reach students, workers, entrepreneurs and future generations.

The agreement, he said, represents not just a technological investment, but a long-term bet on talent, opportunity and economic growth in the Garden State.

“In my view, we are all carrying forward our state’s legacy of legendary innovation, one that is defined by names like Thomas Edison or all the luminaries at Bell Labs, and certainly now, Chris [Malachowsky] and his colleagues at Nvidia,” said Murphy. “And with the [memorandum of understanding] 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.”

NJ native

Murphy noted that Malachowsky, Nvidia’s co-founder, who was on hand for the signing, grew up in Ocean Township. He lauded the company for its bold and unifying vision for the future of innovation.

“With this MOU, we’re making a commitment to realize that vision right here in New Jersey,” said Murphy. “It will create a statewide framework for bringing together our government, research universities, our community colleges, the New Jersey AI Hub, and of course, Nvidia. And together, we’re going to advance AI education, workforce development, research, and innovation at scale – so we can prepare New Jersey students, innovators and workers to shape the future of AI, and not get run over by it.

“And with this morning’s announcement, we’re not just marking a new collaboration. We’re also putting money on the table. Earlier this week, and I want to thank them, the state Legislature approved a $25 million investment to support a statewide supercomputer initiative for New Jersey’s institutions of higher learning,” Murphy continued. “This is a catalytic investment that will eventually help equip our students, researchers and entrepreneurs with state-of-the-art resources to explore the possibilities of generative artificial intelligence – and prepare for tomorrow’s economy.”

In agreement

Murphy spoke about how his administration and the incoming one – Gov. Mikie Sherrill was sworn in on Jan. 20 – were in lockstep on this initiative, along with the stakeholders involved.

Sherrill was unable to make the MOU signing, as she was kicking off her inauguration weekend festivities, but Murphy relayed a message from the now-57th governor of New Jersey.

“She sends her regrets, but she did ask me to read the following: ‘This project represents a historic opportunity to expand New Jersey’s economic and higher educational competitiveness – and create a new hub of artificial intelligence research and development right here in the Garden State. I’m excited to work with all of the partners involved to move this project forward collaboratively as governor. And I’m thankful to Gov. Murphy, his entire team, and Chris for their tireless work to get us to this point.

“‘It will take coordination and teamwork from partners across the state to ensure we maximize the return of this investment for New Jerseyans. But together, we can ensure this results in more external grant funding for our institutions of higher education, greater educational opportunities for our students, and more investment by industry in this sector.’”

Goal: Enhancing economic opportunity

Malachowsky said, “I’m here representing a company who is happy to partner with the state to further the ambitions that this administration and other leaders have put forth – the AI Hub, the great academic and research schools here. Our aim is to further those ambitions by working with you, using our resources, our expertise, our assets to enhance your vision.

“The goal is – and we’re doing this kind of broadly – to enhance economic opportunity and to maximize the benefit that we can get from AI. Avoid the downsides and do it in a way that democratizes the benefit. There’s so much of what’s going on here in New Jersey that mirrors the industries and initiatives that we care about as a company: workforce development, AI literacy, promoting industries that have life-changing benefits – pharma, health care, the industries here, telecommunications, manufacturing – are all things that we invest in.

“We realized that here was a state, one that I proudly call my own, had already made these investments. Gov. Murphy and his team came out to California, met with my partner Jensen [Huang], and myself over multiple years, and had a vision.”

Malachowsky said that this is not a common theme across the country.

“That somebody would invest in themselves to ferret out what this new thing was, understand what its opportunities and potential was – and to start moving,” he said. “To take action, to make investments, to set up the New Jersey AI Hub, to align the schools and industries.

“So, my hats off to you, governor, and your administration and the leaders here in New Jersey. We’re proud and pleased to commit ourselves to work alongside you to advance your initiatives and use our resources, our people, our time to go down that road together.”

‘Transformative for higher education’

Rutgers University President William Tate IV described it as the first step in an important process.

“It’s exciting for Rutgers and all of our higher education partners,” Tate said. “We’re honored to be engaged in this and to collaborate in this statewide initiative. Entering into this agreement will be transformative for higher education for Rutgers and for our students and faculty. The opportunities for further incorporating AI into our work of higher education is extremely important.”

Tate closed his remarks by saying, “Rutgers welcomes the tremendous partnership with the state government, our research universities and private sector partners. We’re committed to a broad access of transformative technology that will accelerate innovation and entrepreneurship – and bring enormous new opportunities for education and workforce.

“If I had to answer the question, ‘Why am I here today?’ It’s opportunity. We look forward to the next steps in this process.”

‘A technological revolution’

New Jersey Institute of Technology President Teik Lim thanked all of the partners and stakeholders for their efforts in bringing this initiative to fruition.

“In real time, we are witnessing the power of generative artificial intelligence and machine learning to transform industry, to transform lives, as well as rapid advancement and deployment of new AI-enabled tools in nearly every aspect of our lives of lives and careers,” said Lim. “I think we’re in a technological revolution. Developing the New Jersey supercomputer initiatives presents an opportunity for higher education, government, and industry to partner on a flagship statewide approach to advancing shared AI infrastructure, education and research capacity.”

Lim continued, “Bringing together Nvidia, NJIT, Princeton [University], Rutgers, Stevens [Institute of Technology], and the New Jersey Council of County Colleges, and the New Jersey AI Hub will marshal the state’s greatest intellectual and technical resources in this rapidly expanding field. And chart a course for providing curricular collaboration, program expansion, AI skills training, infrastructure and platform design, certifications and career pathways, community engagement, research, collaboration, and the development of an innovative ecosystem, and much, much more.

“So, I am enthusiastic that this collaboration will position New Jersey at a cutting-edge in defining the future of AI development and implementation. To finish it off, I believe this is the beginning of an exciting partnership – and I look forward to working with all of you in the interest of our students and the people of the State of New Jersey.”

NJEDA to lead efforts

On the state end, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority will run the efforts. Murphy noted that in addition to this initiative tying into the NJ AI Hub, he expects cross-pollination in terms of AI applications across the state’s other strategic innovation centers, which NJBIZ has previously reported on, and were a central tenet of Murphy’s economic strategy.

“The future is bright,” said Murphy, as he closed out his final media event as New Jersey’s governor. “And we are thrilled not just by the specific initiatives that this MOU speaks to. But, more broadly, the continuation and growing of our innovation economy, which we think is rightfully ours.”