This post originally appeared at https://wisconsindailystar.com/news/task-force-preparing-for-ai-revolution-among-smaller-wisconsin-businesses/tcsquare/2023/11/01/

by Benjamin Yount

The head of Wisconsin’s economic development office isn’t worried about the state’s big businesses and artificial intelligence. She is worried about the number of small businesses which may not be prepared.

Gov. Evers Task Force on Workforce and Artificial Intelligence held its first meeting Monday.

Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. CEO and Secretary Missy Hughes (pictured above) said Wisconsin has been embracing AI for years, but only on a small scale.

She said artificial intelligence has a chance to change everything from office work to manufacturing. But only if small businesses embrace it.

“A recent study that W EDC helped to support of manufacturers in Wisconsin, small and medium-sized manufacturers. Of the 400 that were surveyed, many of them, an overwhelming amount of them said ‘I don’t really have any use for AI. I don’t think it’s really going to impact my business, and I’m not really spending my time thinking about it,’” Hughes said. “Rockwell’s got [AI], they’re going to rock and roll on that. But our small- and medium-sized manufacturers could quickly get overrun by what we see happening.”

Evers told the task force, in a videotaped message, that Wisconsin must have a strategy for artificial intelligence to make sure Wisconsin’s workforce isn’t left behind.

“AI has the potential to completely change the nature of our workforce, be a driver for economic development in our state and change the game when it comes to our state’s key industries like manufacturing, healthcare, and agriculture,” Evers said.

Wisconsin has a workforce shortage. There are thousands of open jobs, and not enough people to fill them.

The governor wants his task force to come-up with a blueprint for how Wisconsin can “harness” AI for both the near-term and Wisconsin’s long-term future.

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Benjamin Yount is a contributor to The Center Square.
Photo “Missy Hughes” by Missy Hughes.

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