First glass, then steel. These products powered Pittsburgh’s economy well into the 1970s. Now, some believe artificial intelligence will be the catalyst for the region’s next industrial revolution.

The Pittsburgh AI Strike Team is betting on it.

Formed two years ago, the coalition of industry, academic and government leaders is determined to fuel Pittsburgh’s AI revolution and transform the region into a global hub for AI by 2028.

“We have a moment in time where we can lead in the new AI economy,” said Joanna Doven, executive director of the strike team. “Pittsburgh being the former industrial powerhouse that it was with steel, AI is the new steel. It’s going to be ubiquitous. It’s going to be everywhere. It’s going to be used by everyone in some way.”

Pittsburgh and its surrounding communities already have the right ingredients, Doven said: world-class universities leading in AI, robotics, health care and life sciences; abundant land, water and energy; a low cost of living; and a climate free from the extreme weather risks faced by coastal regions. The strike team believes this recipe positions Pittsburgh to become a top 10 tech city.

“We are a leading city in AI, but it’s not translating to significant job growth. When you look at top tech companies and where they have their AI infrastructure, you’re not really seeing that in Western Pennsylvania,” Doven said. “We need to change that. And it really starts with telling our story and then organizing the effort to go out and recruit these companies.”

But what does this mean for Butler County?

Officials say an AI-driven economic boom could create jobs across multiple sectors, from skilled trades needed to build the infrastructure to high-paying tech jobs downstream. It could attract new corporations and help modernize the county’s existing strong manufacturing base. Butler County even has potential sites to house data centers.

“I think that as the region goes after the AI industry, the benefits will extend beyond Cranberry — to all of Butler County and the entire region,” said Dan Santoro, Cranberry Township manager. “As the saying goes, rising tides raise all ships.”

Artificial intelligence is more than just website chatbots. AI enables computers and machines to perform tasks such as recognizing speech, analyzing data, making complex decisions and even learning from experience. It powers everyday tools like Siri and Alexa, Netflix and Amazon recommendations, and self-driving cars. AI helps companies automate tasks, improve efficiency, make better decisions and lower costs. At its core, AI is about creating smarter technology that helps people and businesses solve problems faster and more effectively.

For southwestern Pennsylvania to become a global AI hub, it must build the necessary infrastructure:

■ Data centers: Large facilities with high-performance computing servers that process massive amounts of data.

■ High-speed internet and cloud computing networks.

■ Land, water and power: Data centers require significant space, energy and cooling resources.

■ University-private sector partnerships: Ongoing research and innovation are essential for long-term success.

Other U.S. cities already are far ahead of Pittsburgh. Columbus, Ohio, and Boston have been investing in AI infrastructure for years. The Stargate Project, a collaboration between OpenAI, SoftBank and other technology leaders, is planning a $500 billion investment in AI infrastructure nationwide, starting in Texas.

Closer to home, on April 2, Homer City Redevelopment of Indiana County, Pennsylvania, and Kiewit Power Contructors Co. announced the former Homer City Generating Station, a former coal plant, would be turned in to a 3,200-acre natural gas-powered data center campus. The project aims to serve growing artificial intelligence and high-performance computing demand.

The Pittsburgh AI Strike Force’s mission is to position the region as “open for AI.”

“It’s really about having us ready to avail ourselves of the opportunities that data centers can provide and AI can provide. And the bottom line is, it’s about economic growth and jobs,” said Rich Fitzgerald, executive director of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) and co-chairman of the strike force’s advisory committee. The SPC represents Butler County and nine other counties.

Data centers are the heart of AI infrastructure. These industrial-style buildings house rows of specialized high-performance servers that process enormous amounts of data. Fitzgerald said all of the counties represented by the SPC likely have two or three prime sites for data centers. The ideal site is 20 to 100 acres of vacant land with access to water, energy, power grids and broadband connectivity.

Mark Gordon, chief of economic development and planning for Butler County, identified several potential data center sites, including the former Armco II site off Bantam Avenue in Butler. This 35-acre parcel has the existing power infrastructure, making it a viable location. He also pointed to areas in the northern tier of the county along the Interstate 80 corridor as potential sites.

Butler County has the resources to accommodate data centers, Gordon said: natural gas, water, a strong power grid and broadband. The manufacturing base here already consumes considerable energy, with facilities like Cleveland-Cliffs’ steel plant in Butler Township and Coherent in Clinton Township.

“We supply an integrated steel facility here where the melting of steel is done through arc furnaces, all through electricity,” said Gordon, who spent 36 years in the steel industry. “And we continue to have the ability to support industries like that. The growth of those crystals (at Coherent) requires significant amounts of electricity.”

There are other ways Butler County could benefit from the Pittsburgh AI Strike Force’s initiative.

■ Construction jobs: Developing AI infrastructure requires skilled tradespeople to build data centers and supporting facilities.

■ Workforce development: Local colleges and universities could collaborate with businesses and other schools to train workers in advanced manufacturing and AI-related fields.

■Manufacturing modernization: Existing manufacturers could leverage AI-driven efficiencies to improve productivity and reduce costs.

■ Corporate attraction: Butler County already is home to corporations like MSA, Westinghouse, PPG Architectural Coatings and Coherent. AI growth could bring new businesses, boosting job creation.

“I think it fits very well with what we've seen going on here in southern Butler County and southwestern Butler County now for a couple of decades,” Santoro said.

A stronger AI presence means benefits for everyone, Gordon said.

“All of those things are good for consumers. If the steel is less per ton, ultimately that helps make the car or the truck a little less expensive. And it all stacks up,” he noted.

AI infrastructure comes with challenges. Like glass and steel production before them, data centers consume vast amounts of electricity and increase carbon dioxide emissions. A Goldman Sachs report found that a single ChatGPT query requires nearly 10 times the electricity of a Google search. The report predicts that carbon dioxide emissions from data centers could more than double between 2022 and 2030.

Cooling data centers also requires immense water usage. To mitigate the environmental costs, some tech companies are researching energy-efficient designs and alternative cooling methods.

Harnessing cleaner energy sources, such as natural gas and nuclear power, also could help reduce the carbon footprint.

“I think the key is you try to partner with responsible companies,” Gordon said. “These people that own and operate these companies call this place home as well. So they share the same water, they breathe the same air.”

The Pittsburgh AI Strike Team is moving forward with “Operation Stargate Pittsburgh,” a coordinated effort to prepare sites and resources for AI infrastructure investments. The strike team is planning the AI Horizons 2025 summit in Pittsburgh this September to kick off a national business recruitment campaign.

“What we don’t want to do is study ourselves to death,” Doven said. “I mean, we know that we have an opportunity, and we know that we’re punching below our weight class right now. We want to punch above our weight class.”

How does Butler County secure its place in the AI economy? By being proactive, Gordon said. County officials serve on key boards and commissions, maintaining an inventory of industrial sites that could attract companies. Perhaps most importantly, they advocate for the county’s assets.

“So the way we end up eventually getting a seat at the table is by being engaged and by being present. You have to meet people where they’re at,” Gordon said. “I might not have the best looking legs, but I'll be the best cheerleader there is for Butler County.”

This article first appeared in the March edition of Butler County Business Matters.