North Dakota – North Dakota’s former governor is further explaining why his home state is in a good position to become a leader in artificial intelligence development, and providing the power behind it.
“What an opportunity,” U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum told The Flag. “Now there’s an opportunity for us to take those resources [like coal and oil], turn them into electricity, and then take that and turn it into an intelligence.”
Just this month, Applied Digital announced a plan to build another ‘AI factory’ at a cost of $3 billion in Harwood, just north of Fargo.
Burgum called AI development a “breakthrough for rural states with high energy” but also challenges the characterization of new facilities that are popping up in the state.
“I think we should all stop calling them data centers,” said Burgum. “We’re manufacturing intelligence.”
While acknowledging there’s a side pursuit to develop AI to counter China and their potential for cyberattacks, Burgum says there’s a great of benefit for the U.S. within the private sector.
“There’s so much good that can come from AI whether it’s curing cancer, accelerating innovation across agriculture, manufacturing, education and the law,” said Burgum. “There’s so many ways we can apply that capability in this country.”
You can below to Burgum talking about AI during his exclusive interview with The Flag’s Scott Hennen:
