City of San José to Upskill Workforce and Drive AI Innovation in Local Government in Collaboration with NVIDIA
Mayor Matt Mahan, NVIDIA to sign Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will underscore San Jose’s status as an AI capital for the nation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 12, 2024
Media Contact:
Tasha Dean, Chief Communications Officer, Office of Mayor Matt Mahan; [email protected]
SAN JOSÉ, CA - Today, San José Mayor Matt Mahan, and San José State University (SJSU) President Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson announced groundbreaking AI-focused collaborations with NVIDIA to cultivate a future-ready workforce. The City of San José and San José State University, have signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with NVIDIA, marking the company’s first direct workforce pipeline initiative with a city government.
Mayor Matt Mahan’s administration has piloted AI deployments across a range of city services to demonstrate that technological tools can improve government efficiency and productivity. The signing of this agreement follows the inaugural GovAI Coalition Summit — an organization founded by the City of San Jose that brings together hundreds of public servants from across the nation to share their experiences using AI to drive positive outcomes for residents.
“From NVIDIA’s inception at a Denny’s in East Side San José to hosting the NVIDIA GTC conference here in the heart of our city, this relationship has deep roots,” said San José Mayor Matt Mahan. “We are fortunate to partner with one of the world’s most innovative companies to deliver public sector innovation because we know that AI's full potential can only be realized when it transforms the way that government serves the community.”
“AI training and development for current and future workforces is key for state and local governments to keep up with a rapidly evolving landscape and foster economic growth. The City of San José and San José State University are helping lead the way in empowering professionals, educators and students with NVIDIA’s cutting-edge tools and comprehensive education programs to drive innovation,,” said Greg Estes, Vice President of Corporate Marketing and Developer Programs at NVIDIA.
In parallel, NVIDIA signed a new initiative with San José State University, one of the top performing public universities in the nation, to drive advancements in AI literacy, enhance workforce capabilities and advance student success in preparation for advancement into AI-related fields. Business Insider ranks SJSU number one in the US for "Most Silicon Valley Hires" because so many SJSU graduates go on to work for top tech companies, including NVIDIA.
"San José State University’s collaboration with NVIDIA and the City of San José reflects our unique positioning in the epicenter of the future--Silicon Valley. This relationship focuses on high-demand fields such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data science, ensuring our graduates are ready to excel in the next generation of careers,” said SJSU President Cynthia Teniente-Matson. “With NVIDIA’s headquarters nearby, and many SJSU alumni employed at the company, this collaboration is a natural fit. Together we lift our ability to serve as a global model for research and workforce needs that are impacted by AI for social and civic good."
Under the initiative between the City and NVIDIA, San José could offer city facilities to support AI research and development, streamline regulatory approvals for AI initiatives, and explore financial incentives to bolster AI-driven projects. The city will collaborate with partners like work2future, San José State University, and other institutions to create AI training programs and career pipelines. To foster community engagement, San José will promote AI awareness through public events, workshops, and mentorship programs. The city will also work with NVIDIA to drive AI sustainability projects in line with its net-zero emissions goals and foster a supportive environment for AI startups and innovation.
The City of San José will tap into NVIDIA’s resources, training, and networking opportunities to build a thriving AI ecosystem. This includes sharing educational tools to enhance city employees' AI skills — which could compliment the City’s existing Data Upskilling Program that aims to help employees develop the necessary skill set to analyze data and identify patterns in datasets to inform departmental decisions. In addition, the City will promote AI awareness with workshops available through the NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute, establish mentorship programs, and connect AI startups through the NVIDIA Inception program. The City will also work with NVIDIA to support sustainability initiatives, helping pilot AI-driven projects to reduce carbon footprints and collaborating with local utility districts to integrate AI into green solutions.
SJSU will work with both NVIDIA and the City to augment SJSU’s research capabilities in AI, machine learning, robotics and cybersecurity; to develop and refine educational and faculty develop programs; to prepare students with AI skills that position them for competitive roles in the tech industry and to advance the campus’ work in closing equity achievement gaps.
MOUs available upon request.
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About the City of San José
With nearly one million residents, San José is the largest city in the Bay Area and one of the nation's most diverse and creative. San José’s transformation into a global innovation center in the heart of Silicon Valley has resulted in the world's greatest concentration of technology talent and development.
About San José State University
The oldest public educational institution in California, SJSU is a comprehensive university, granting bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in 250 areas of study With more than 36,000 students, 4,300 employees and 400,000 alumni worldwide, SJSU was recently ranked the No. 4 public university in the nation by the Wall Street Journal and College Pulse.