Embracing AI is a pathway to prosperity for Illinois

Illinois has all the ingredients it needs to emerge as a national leader in innovation.

From the Chicago region’s thriving startup ecosystem to our world-class universities and central location, the promise of our state is undeniable. With the right leadership, Illinois can transform these advantages into a future defined by growth, opportunity, and security while playing a pivotal role in preserving America’s tech leadership on the global stage.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is at the heart of this transformation. AI is already reshaping Illinois’ most important industries, from agriculture and life sciences to finance and manufacturing. Hospitals are leveraging AI to improve patient care, streamline operations, and advance precision medicine, while factories are adopting smart systems that boost productivity and prepare workers for the industries of tomorrow.

For Illinois, the path forward is clear: if we commit to strategic investment in both the technology and those who power it, we can usher in a new era of prosperity.

Our state already has unique strengths on which to build this next generation of innovation. Chicago is a hub for some of the nation’s most promising startups and technologists. The world’s leading quantum researchers and institutions are putting down roots here, placing us on the front lines of discovery and possibility. We also are home to one of the nation’s most robust networks of data centers — the backbone of the AI revolution — and a manufacturing workforce that has powered America’s industrial strength for generations.

Together, these assets position us to lead — but only if we pair infrastructure with human capital, investment and action.

Illinois needs forward-thinking leadership to ensure AI empowers our residents at every turn. Across the country, new startups and innovative companies are proving that AI can supercharge productivity while generating thousands of new jobs and better opportunities. Illinois should embrace the chance to create a friendly, welcoming environment for those startups to spur innovation and strengthen our communities through good-paying jobs and new investments.

We must commit to training the workforce of tomorrow, not just recruiting for the jobs of today. Our state should double down on partnerships among schools, universities, and employers so residents are equipped with the skills AI demands — whether coding, robotics, advanced manufacturing, or the new industries we cannot yet imagine. By investing in our residents, we take important steps toward ensuring that AI enhances work, drives productivity, and creates prosperity.

Embracing AI is not just an economic issue — it is a matter of national security. America faces real threats from foreign adversaries like China, which is investing heavily in AI, quantum computing, and advanced manufacturing to gain an edge. If Illinois rises to this challenge, we can help ensure America — not China — sets the standard for the technologies that will define the future.

At the same time, we must be intentional about how we build. Data centers are essential infrastructure, but Illinois cannot afford to become a state that invests only in data storage and processing while overlooking the broader opportunities made possible through innovation. True leadership comes not just from housing technology, but from applying it through AI-driven tools that strengthen supply chains, transform health care delivery, revolutionize education, and help small businesses grow.

With policies that balance innovation with fairness and investments that modernize infrastructure, Illinois can show the nation that innovation and responsibility go hand in hand. By embracing this momentum, we can strengthen our economy, empower our residents, and secure Illinois’ place at the forefront of America’s technological leadership.

• Scott Gartner is the mayor of Antioch.