Earlier this month in Pittsburgh, an unlikely trio—President Donald J. Trump, Governor Josh Shapiro (D-PA), and Senator Dave McCormick (R-PA)—announced a historic $90 billion investment in Pennsylvania’s artificial intelligence (AI) and energy sectors. This marks a generational opportunity for the Commonwealth: a second act for towns that once forged America’s steel and are now laying the foundation for its AI-driven future.
The announcement, made at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, sets the tone for a new era of bipartisan ambition. Whether you call it industrial revival or reinvention, the outcome is clear: Pennsylvania—and Pittsburgh specifically—is emerging as a national leader in artificial intelligence, energy infrastructure, and workforce development.
What makes this moment remarkable isn't just the size of the investment; it's the unified approach and statewide coordination. Democratic Governor Shapiro has fast-tracked permitting processes and launched a $400 million workforce training program. Federal leaders have unlocked capital for long-overdue investments in transmission lines, clean hydrogen, and rural broadband.Both parties recognize that Pittsburgh's industrial heritage and Pennsylvania's broader infrastructure offer unique advantages in the AI economy, including a skilled workforce, robust infrastructure, and strategic location.
That momentum is already translating into private-sector action. In June, Amazon announced a $20 billion investment in Pennsylvania to expand its data center infrastructure for AI and cloud computing, creating 1,250 new high-skilled jobs. CoreWeave, valued at $19 billion, is investing $6 billion in a new AI data center in Lancaster, PA. These investments are projected to create tens of thousands of job opportunities across the state.
Consider the numbers: Both Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania have unemployment rates of 3.9%, among the lowest levels in recent years. Average wages in AI-related fields nationwide exceed $131,000 annually—more than double the national median income of $59,428 and significantly higher than Pennsylvania’s average salary of $51,528. Unlike previous tech booms concentrated in expensive coastal cities, this growth is occurring in communities where middle-class families can still afford homes and build generational wealth.
Republican Senator Dave McCormick, who hosted the summit, captured the urgency of this moment: "We have a great set of cards, but the question is, are we going to be able to play those cards to maximize the moment? This isn't a 'The next decade' kind of thing. This is 6, 12, 24, 36 months."
This economic opportunity extends well beyond computer science graduates. AI data centers require electricians, HVAC technicians, and security specialists. Manufacturing facilities need skilled machinists and quality control experts. From Pittsburgh steelworkers retraining as robotic welders to high school graduates joining clean energy startups, the state's workforce is being reshaped in real time. Young professionals who might have sought opportunities elsewhere are finding compelling reasons to stay.
Pittsburgh's transformation is proof of what’s possible. When steel production collapsed in the 1980s, the city that once produced nearly half of America's steel reinvented itself as an economy built around healthcare giant UPMC (now the largest non-governmental employer in Western Pennsylvania with over 92,000 employees), financial powerhouse PNC, and research institutions like Carnegie Mellon, which ranks #1 nationally for AI programs.
Now comes Pittsburgh's third act. The city is anchoring an AI revolution by leveraging its universities, healthcare systems, and financial sector—but with a crucial advantage that coastal tech hubs lack. While Silicon Valley tech workers need $574,800 in annual income to afford a median-priced home, Pittsburgh offers a similar innovation ecosystem at a cost 75% lower than San Jose. Having navigated multiple tech transitions in my career, I know that transformative moments like this are rare. Pennsylvania has a chance to be what California was to the internet revolution: the place where America’s AI future is.
But success isn't guaranteed. It requires continued bipartisan cooperation, strategic planning that incorporates community voices, and an acknowledgment that economic development must prioritize people over profit margins. Pittsburgh’s steel industry once fueled America's industrial strength. Now, its AI sector has the potential to drive America's technological future and serve as a model for other cities and states.
The question isn't whether Pittsburgh will participate in the AI revolution; rather, it's whether Pittsburgh will lead Pennsylvania—and the nation—into this new era. With $90 billion in public and private commitments and a unified vision for growth, Pennsylvania is poised to prove that economic transformation can deliver broadly shared prosperity—anchored by a city that has already mastered the art of reinvention.
This is Pittsburgh's third economic act. If executed correctly, it could define the next era of American industry.
