Leveraging AI in the First State

BY PATRICK CALLIHAN

THERE’S A LOT OF BUZZ TODAY about artificial intelligence (AI), much like there was in the early days of cloud computing. The current excitement around AI seems to follow the familiar pattern of the “Technology Hype Cycle.” According to Gartner’s model, we are likely somewhere between the Innovation Trigger and the Peak of Inflated Expectations. But what does that really mean?

AI holds a lot of potential, and tech companies are pouring billions into developing both the technology and the infrastructure needed for its computing power. Meanwhile, other companies are focused on creating applications that make use of AI. This isn’t entirely new—AI has been around since the 1950s—but it’s just now becoming mainstream. The key difference today is that modern computing systems can handle the massive amounts of data AI depends on.

There are also flaws. As companies work to develop large language models, some of these faults have been exposed. Like any technology, the outputs are only as good as the inputs. This is why we often find misinformation and “hallucinations” in the results. It is also why some companies, like McDonald’s, have turned away from the use of AI. That said, there are a lot of marketing dollars being invested to convince us that AI will solve many of our business challenges. And that is likely to prove true.

In Delaware, AI is being put to good use. The state, through organizations like Tech Impact, has invested significantly in AI. Together, we have developed AI-powered applications that provide critical data for improved governance and state investments. Examples include applications that predict and help prevent evictions, applications that identify nursing shortages by census track, systems that can predict an opioid treatment relapse, and AI-driven solutions that help case managers prioritize their counseling efforts.

Healthcare is another promising area for innovation with AI applications in Delaware. Leveraging data from our community can help developers and hospitals “fine-tune” foundational models. Training large language models with relevant data to improve AI outputs has the potential to save lives.

The state, through Governor Carney’s leadership, is now making these investments. The results can be life changing, literally. Imagine an oncologist using AI models to quickly summarize a patient’s health record to determine the most effective treatment plan. Or a patient using the technology to get answers to their questions about the disease and treatment options. AI in Delaware has the potential to enhance treatment plans and improve outcomes for patients. Private industry, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and government can work together to develop models and applications that will lead to more equitable and improved outcomes for patients. The Data Lab at Tech Impact is in the early stages of fine-tuning foundational models to address these challenges and create innovative solutions aimed at lowering mortality rates, positioning Delaware as a leader in using AI to solve critical issues.

AI has a lot of promise. It is our collective responsibility to harness its potential for our state and establish Delaware a leader in both AI and healthcare.

Patrick Callihan is CEO of Tech Impact.