MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – Between xAI, Oracle and Google, there\u2019s a growing presence of AI companies in the Mid-South.<\/p>\n
Four major universities are teaming up to make the Mid-South a national hub for artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n
The University of Memphis, University of Arkansas, University of Mississippi and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center created the \u201cMid-South AI Research Consortium\u201d to do just that.<\/p>\n
University leaders gathered in Memphis on Monday for a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signing ceremony to celebrate the partnership.<\/p>\n
The goal is to turn the region into a \u201cliving laboratory\u201d to brainstorm scientific and economic uses of AI.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know, I see AI as not something to be feared. It\u2019s something to be harnessed and managed and used to make our lives and our institutions better,\u201d said University of Memphis President Dr. Bill Hardgrave. \u201cIt\u2019s a tool, and like any tool, if used properly, it makes things more effective and more efficient.\u201d<\/p>\n
The group\u2019s research and development will focus on five areas: <\/p>\n
Rural and precision healthSupply chain and logisticsEnergy and data centersAgriculture and food securityNational defense<\/p>\n
Leaders say the partnership will train and prepare students and local workers for the growing AI economy.<\/p>\n