Doven spoke to a joint Republican state Senate and House policy committee hearing. "We grew economies throughout Pennsylvania by producing the steel that defeated tyranny. Now we must build the AI that does the same," she said.
Doven was among several experts who spoke about the potential of companies that develop and deploy artificial intelligence (AI) to boost the commonwealth's economy and bring jobs here.
"Pennsylvania has a remarkable opportunity to leverage cutting-edge developments in artificial intelligence to spur investment and revolutionize our economy," said Sen. Tracy Pennycuick (R-Montgomery) who chairs the Senate Communications and Technology Committee. "Today's hearing will help shape the General Assembly's approach as we look to promote, expand, and strategically harness AI technology for the benefit of our entire commonwealth."
Doven said AI is booming in the American heartland, but not so much on the East Coast. For example, Tulsa, Okla., saw $1 billion in new annual tax revenue from a drone company. And new data centers brought Columbus, Ohio, $191 million in local and state tax revenue, up 43 percent from the previous year.
Dr. Hooman Rashidi, executive director of the Computational Pathology and AI Center of Excellence (CPACE) and Associate Dean of AI in Medicine for the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, spoke of how AI will improve healthcare through faster diagnosis, improved access in rural areas, and enhancing "interdisciplinary decision making in tumor boards and other collaborative care settings."
Among other things, he recommended AI education programs for healthcare workers, developing and investing in AI tools that reduce paperwork, and improving diagnostic accuracy and results for patients.
Dr. Andrew Horchler, chief research officer of Astrobotic Technology, Inc., detailed how AI is becoming essential to deep space exploration, noting that it "empowers spacecraft, landers, and rovers to perform autonomously, efficiently, and safely in remote and extreme environments" and is essential to real-time decision-making, hazard avoidance, and data prioritization. The public hearing was hosted at Astrobotic's headquarters.
Bruno Abreu, Ph.D., deputy scientific director for the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center, said researchers at the University of Pittsburgh use AI to prevent buckling or breaks in railways, improving safety.
Abreu said that includes "key systems that unlocked AI research and applications."
"Investments in cyberinfrastructure designed to handle these large-scale scientific computing and AI workloads will give Pennsylvania a significant competitive advantage by enabling leading-edge innovation, supporting advanced research, and enhancing collaboration, all critical factors for staying ahead in a competitive landscape," he said.
Pennsylvania needs more energy for data centers to power AI, said Doven. Another issue is the slow permitting process in Pennsylvania compared with other states.
"In southwestern Pennsylvania, they have .97 megawatts of data centers but are second in the amount of natural gas in the country," said Doven. But the Homer City plant that's coming online in two years will improve things. The Pittsburgh region received $1.87 billion in venture capital investment last year.
"We need immediate policies (to encourage) companies getting that venture capital, from Silicon Valley, to stay here, thicken, and grow" said Doven. "We need to encourage them to stay here."
The area is eighth in AI patents, she said. The Pittsburgh region has the third-highest AI-trained workforce behind Boston and Silicon Valley, she said.
Pennycuick is concerned that "our energy policy is going to hold us back."
"We do not have a strategic energy plan in Pennsylvania and I hope this is an eye-opener for all of us to get together and figure that out. I'm a huge supporter of portable nuclear reactors. And I think nuclear is the way to go with these data centers. And, we've got all this natural gas. We need to jump in, both feet, and take the plunge and just get it done."
Rep. David Rowe (R-Snyder) said Doven's testimony shows that the state needs power, fiber and "permitting ready to go."
"We are losing the power war to China," said Rowe. "Not a single gas project has started since 2019. Gov. Wolf and Gov. Shapiro brought the sword of Damocles, that is the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), that is a billion-dollar energy tax into the picture. By contrast, China grew almost 100 gigawatts in thermal energy development last year alone...We're losing that energy race despite the fact that we (are) the second largest natural gas producing state in the nation."
On the permitting side, Rowe said, "Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R-Ark.) famously said, 'We will have you open for business before Pennsylvania even gives you a permit for construction.' And he was right. That $3 billion steel mill is now open in Arkansas and not here in Pennsylvania."
In his district, a small business wants to fix a cracked drainpipe to keep its basement from flooding. Regulators "strung them along" for two years, he said.
Sen. Dave Argall (R-Carbon), who chairs the policy committee, said, "Artificial intelligence is the future. Today's testimony from the experts at the forefront of this emerging industry is crucial as we prepare Pennsylvania to effectively harness this world-changing technology."
© 2025 Delaware Valley Journal, West Chester, Pa. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
