The State of Utah, in collaboration with NVIDIA, has launched a new AI education initiative aimed at advancing workforce training and economic development across the state. The initiative will provide universities, community colleges, and adult education programs with the resources to develop essential skills in generative AI.
“AI will continue to grow in importance, affecting every sector of Utah’s economy,” said Utah Governor Spencer Cox. “We need to prepare our students and faculty for this revolution. Working with NVIDIA is an ideal path to help ensure that Utah is positioned for AI growth in the near and long term.”
As part of the initiative, Utah educators will have the opportunity to gain certification through the NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute University Ambassador Program. This program offers High-quality AI teaching kits, Extensive workshop content and Access to NVIDIA GPU-accelerated cloud workstations.
By equipping educators with cutting-edge AI knowledge and tools, the initiative aims to enhance Utah’s higher education system and provide students with a competitive advantage in AI-driven industries.
“We believe that AI education is more than a pathway to innovation — it’s a foundation for solving some of the world’s most pressing challenges,” said Manish Parashar, director of the University of Utah Scientific Computing and Imaging (SCI) Institute. “By equipping students and researchers with the tools to explore, understand, and create with AI, we empower them to drive advancements in medicine, engineering, and beyond.”
The initiative will begin with the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) and several state universities, including University of Utah, Utah State University, Utah Valley University, Weber State University, Utah Tech University, Southern Utah University, Snow College and Salt Lake Community College.
Additionally, Utah state agencies are developing internship and apprenticeship programs to provide students with hands-on experience in AI applications, helping bridge the gap between education and industry demands.
As AI continues to transform industries, Utah’s proactive approach will equip its workforce with the skills necessary to thrive in the evolving technological landscape, further solidifying the state’s position as a leader in AI innovation.
