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Thursday marks a major moment in the burgeoning efforts to cement the Garden State as a leader in artificial intelligence (AI), as Princeton University hosts the first NJ AI Summit in partnership with Gov. Phil Murphy and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA).

The April 11 event will convene leaders from the region and beyond at the university to explore AI applications in health, finance, sustainable energy and technology. The societal implications of AI and the opportunities to advance AI education and workforce development will also be addressed.

This inaugural summit was first announced back in December, when Princeton and the state announced plans to develop an AI Hub at the school. Earlier this week, that initiative took another step forward when a Request for Information (RFI) was issued for best practices and operational insights to establish and develop the hub.

Thursday’s event brings all of the different stakeholders under one roof for a day of speeches, panels and discussions – along with networking opportunities and more.

Murphy is slated to speak, along with Princeton University President Christopher Eisgruber and a stacked roster of AI industry and thought leaders. The full lineup and itinerary is available here.

Shooting for the moon

“Few places are better positioned to lead the way globally in AI than New Jersey. Truth is – we are already a leader in the field,” said Murphy during his State of the State Address in January, when he also announced an AI Moonshot that is included in his budget proposal. “Just last month, in partnership with Princeton University, we announced plans to create a new AI innovation hub. It will bring together researchers, industry leaders, thought leaders, world-leading academics, ethicists, and the public sector to advance developments in AI – and incubate groundbreaking discoveries.”

“AI has the power and potential to drive innovation, create jobs, and build long-term economic growth,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan earlier this week when the RFI was announced. “The AI Hub will build upon the Garden State’s longstanding legacy in innovation and establish Central Jersey, already famed for its Route 1 Research Corridor, as a leading national base for AI activity. I look forward to our continued collaboration with Princeton University as we forget ahead in establishing New Jersey as a premier location for the creation of cutting-edge AI technologies and companies.”

“With New Jersey’s AI Moonshot, our mission is for our state’s top minds to pioneer a series of AI-powered breakthroughs, over the next decade, that will change the lives of billions for the better,” Murphy continued in his State of the State. “Our state government will be a catalyst for bringing together innovators and leaders to invest in research and development, and ultimately, establish New Jersey as the home-base for AI-powered gamechangers.”

Those efforts take the next step Thursday. NJBIZ will be on hand for the inaugural NJ AI Summit, stay tuned for continued coverage.