Marketplace Tech Former regional Fed president: We need an "AI land grant act"
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Nov 6, 2025 Pat Harker, the former president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia and a distinguished professor at Wharton, dives into his bold vision for a “digital AI land grant act.” He argues that big tech owes ongoing support to communities hosting data centers. Topics include creating educational partnerships to enhance AI training, co-locating training facilities near data centers, and applying AI to strengthen local industries like agriculture and healthcare. Harker emphasizes the urgency of expanding these initiatives beyond tech hubs to underrepresented areas.
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Digital Land Grant For Cyberspace
- The 19th-century Morrill Act model can be updated for cyberspace as a "digital land grant" to teach AI skills nationwide.
- Pat Harker argues federal seeding can create networks linking research universities, regional schools, and community colleges.
Invest In Faculty And Student Training
- Build training programs for faculty and support students to accelerate AI skills across universities and colleges.
- Create public-private partnerships to give incentives for innovation and practical education locally.
Fund With A Digital Dividend
- Fund the program with a "digital dividend" where tech firms contribute because federal research helped build the digital infrastructure.
- Negotiate contributions but insist on shared responsibility between government and private sector.