TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Leading researchers, policy leaders and industry experts gathered April 9-10 for the 2026 Alabama AI Innovation Summit, the state’s inaugural gathering focused on developing a framework for AI research.
Hosted by the Alabama Center for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence, the event explored the themes of AI operating systems and knowledge infrastructure to advance responsible AI innovation across Alabama.
Over 300 attendees from across Alabama and Mississippi gathered for the summit.
“The breadth of participation demonstrated that AI is becoming a statewide and regional priority, touching health, education, manufacturing, infrastructure, environment, business and public systems,” said Dr. Jiaqi Gong, associate professor in the Department of Computer Science and director of ALA-AI.
The conference served to accomplish three primary goals: forming cross-sector teams prepared to launch pilots and proposals; developing a summit technical report capturing priorities, gaps and recommended investments; and fostering a statewide AI alliance.
By exploring how to analyze, support and develop AI agent operating systems and corresponding infrastructure, the gathering addressed how AI increasingly operates as part of larger systems.
“By moving beyond individual AI tools to focus on AI infrastructure, knowledge systems, governance, workforce development and responsible adoption, the summit helped identify shared priorities and build momentum for a cross-sector roadmap on AI and knowledge infrastructure,” said Gong.
Guests attended a variety of action-oriented programming, including panels, working groups, roundtables, and keynote addresses from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation. Key supporters included the Lee J. Styslinger Jr. College of Engineering, the College of Community Health Sciences, the Culverhouse College of Business, Google, Mercedes-Benz U.S. International and other sponsors.