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As AI transforms industries, leaders in Prince George’s County are coming together to be proactive and use it for good.
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — A task force meeting held Thursday at the University of Maryland highlighted efforts to drive innovation and create job opportunities in Prince George’s County by embracing artificial intelligence (AI).
Hosted by Prince George’s County Councilmember Wala Blegay, the session brought together local leaders, experts, and business owners to discuss how AI can be used to boost the county’s economy and create new career pathways for residents.
Blegay, who has been advocating for AI initiatives in Prince George’s County, emphasized the importance of ensuring residents are able to transition into emerging industries.
“With the attack on our federal workers, we want to make sure our residents are able to bounce into other industries that are right here at home,” Blegay said.
Among the key speakers was Vennard Wright, CEO of PerVista AI, a business that uses AI to analyze surveillance video and detect firearms. Wright shared how he was able to use his knowledge of the county to grow his tech business, despite Prince George’s County not traditionally being known for its tech sector.
“Historically, Prince George’s County is not known for technology, but we’re looking to change that,” Wright said. He also pointed out that AI offers many job opportunities, even for those without a technical background. “There are lots of jobs that people can work in AI without having to really be technical,” Wright added.
The meeting also featured insights from local education leaders. Keith Marzullo, Dean of the College of Information at the University of Maryland, spoke about the potential for technology to be used for good.
“Technology all depends on how it’s used, and there’s so much that can be done for good,” Marzullo said.
The group is collaborating with local universities, including the University of Maryland, Bowie State, and Prince George’s County Community College, to provide training and resources for other businesses looking to incorporate AI into their operations.
One of the main conversations Thursday was about using AI tools to help with nursing shortages to make it easier to help with healthcare in the county. There were several people who said they could learn how AI can actually help them and not necessarily get rid of any jobs.
Amitabh Varshney, Dean of the College of Computer, Mathematics, and Natural Sciences at the University of Maryland, emphasized AI’s role as a valuable assistant to human ingenuity.
“One of the things we are going to see is AI emerge as a very valuable assistant to the human,” Varshney said.
The ultimate goal of these initiatives is to secure federal, state, and county funding to help local businesses embrace AI technologies. Blegay highlighted the county’s potential, saying, “we know we have the talent here, we know we have all of the pieces, but it’s about bringing it all together.”
For more information about how you can be involved in the county’s AI initiatives, click here to visit the Prince George’s County government website.