Tech Policy Forum

Unlocking AI for Public Good

AI: Who Wins and Who Loses?

At the Block Center for Technology and Society, we bridge cutting-edge research with actionable policy

to address some of today’s most pressing societal challenges. Our work brings together Carnegie Mellon University faculty and partners across disciplines to generate insights that shape the future of work, guide the responsible use of technology, and inform evidence-based policymaking. This page highlights the Block Center’s policy engagement—from events and convenings to publications, news, and research initiatives—showcasing the work we lead and support to inform public engagement and decision-making.

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Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed an Executive Order on Commonwealth use of generative artificial intelligence during a visit on Wednesday, September 20, 2023, to the Tepper Building.

The Commonwealth Project

Pennsylvania AI Governance Initiative

The Block Center for Technology and Society at Carnegie Mellon University is collaborating with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to support the responsible implementation of generative AI technologies in state government operations.

Background

In September 2023, Governor Josh Shapiro signed Executive Order 2023-19, establishing priorities for the use of generative AI in commonwealth agencies. This order created a GenAI Governance Board to oversee the adoption of these technologies. The Block Center was named as a key thought partner in this initiative.

Our Approach

The Block Center is providing expertise and guidance through three main channels:

Educational Workshops: Raising awareness and understanding of GenAI capabilities among Governance Board members.
Strategic Consultation: Regular engagement with the Director of Emerging Technologies to support implementation efforts.
Research Support: Facilitating graduate student research projects to inform the state's AI strategy.

Key Activities

Educational Workshops

We have conducted workshops on fundamental AI concepts, privacy and security concerns, and AI governance through procurement processes. These sessions feature expert faculty and allow for in-depth Q&A with Governance Board members.

Ongoing Consultation

Our team meets monthly with the Director of Emerging Technologies to:

Plan activities and identify areas for faculty support
Discuss the OpenAI Pilot Program implementation
Connect key stakeholders with CMU expertise

Graduate Research

A team of Heinz School students completed a systems synthesis project for the Office of Administration, which included:

Benchmarking Pennsylvania's GenAI goals against neighboring states
Developing a tool to scope problems and identify appropriate AI solutions

Future Initiatives

As we move forward, we are proposing several new activities:

AI Readiness Conference: A 1.5-day event in Harrisburg covering key topics for government AI adoption
CMU AI Readiness Toolkit: Consolidating CMU-developed tools to support AI implementation
Annual State Government AI Index: Expanding our benchmarking research to all 50 states
Policy Problem Use-Cases: Piloting the AI Readiness Toolkit process on 2–3 state government challenges

Impact

This partnership aims to:

Enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of state government services
Ensure the responsible and ethical use of AI technologies
Position Pennsylvania as a leader in government AI adoption

By combining CMU's technical expertise with Pennsylvania's governance needs, we are working to create a model for responsible AI implementation in the public sector.

Read more about Commonwealth Project

AI 101

The Block Center for Technology and Society at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) offers an "AI 101" Initiative that is designed to deepen understanding of how artificial intelligence (AI) will impact various stakeholders, from workers to policymakers. These initiatives bring together diverse groups such as labor unions, media professionals, government representatives, and industry leaders to explore the implications of AI on the future of work, industry disruption, and social equity.

The center regularly hosts in-person meetings, online discussions, and webinars where stakeholders have the opportunity to engage with AI experts, discuss their concerns, and collaboratively explore solutions. These engagements include roundtable discussions and presentations, often involving dialogues on topics like human-machine interaction, AI tools for upskilling workers, generative AI in industries like media, and the development of transparent AI systems.

For example, a visit from the Communications Workers of America (CWA) included discussions on how AI tools can transform worker training and participation in technological development, reflecting CMU’s commitment to addressing the needs of labor unions. Similar efforts extend beyond campus as the Block Center's experts meet with state governments (like Pennsylvania) and federal government representatives in Washington, DC, to ensure that AI policies and innovations are shaped with input from all sectors.

Through these outreach efforts, the Block Center seeks to demystify AI, ensuring that it is implemented responsibly and equitably across various industries and sectors, while actively engaging with those whose livelihoods will be most affected by AI’s rapid advancements.

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The Build Back Better press event in 2022

The New Economy in Southwestern PA

In 2022, Southwest Pennsylvania was one of 30 winners of the Department of Commerce’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge, securing $63 million over three years to promote growth and inclusion in the robotics and manufacturing industries. The Block Center has taken on a pivotal role in the Southwest Pennsylvania New Economy Collaborative, helping establish a well-coordinated upskilling system by funding a variety of training options beyond traditional four-year and advanced degrees. Doing so ensures that the programs stay responsive to evolving industry needs and are accessible to all communities.

The Block Center awarded over $1.4M to eighteen regional partners over the first two rounds of funding. These awardees worked on curriculum development and training projects designed to reskill and mentor underemployed adults to prepare them for industry jobs. To date, more than 600 students have participated in robotics and advanced manufacturing courses, workshops, and training programs.

Through these efforts, The Block Center is advancing education and workforce development and fostering an inclusive environment for future robotics and advanced manufacturing growth in Southwest Pennsylvania.

Pittsburgh Technology Council/Fortyx80

(2023-24 awardee)

This tech apprenticeship program creates an equitable pipeline for software developers and cybersecurity analysts by eliminating barriers for underrepresented populations, while addressing talent shortages in robotics and advanced manufacturing.

Pittsburgh Gateways

(2023-24 awardee)

This program trains technicians in CorePower's advanced manufacturing processes, ensuring an equitable workforce pipeline and supporting regional growth in electric vehicles and renewable energy.

Justin Starr, Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC)

(2023-24 awardee)

CCAC collaborates with local high schools to deliver robotics technician training, equipping students with hands-on skills and industry credentials for entry-level positions in robotics.

New Century Careers

(2023-24 awardee)

NCC's MANUFACTURING 2000 program integrates robotics training to prepare underrepresented individuals for advanced manufacturing roles, addressing employer demand for skilled technicians.

Catalyst Connection

(2023-24 awardee)

This pilot introduces underserved individuals to manufacturing careers through web-based courses, aiming to bridge awareness gaps and guide participants toward entry-level roles in the industry.

Ashley Orr, CMU Heinz College

(2023-24 awardee)

The project embeds growth mindset training in workforce programs to enhance persistence and success in advanced manufacturing, robotics, and digital technologies.

Vu Nguyen, CMU Robotics Academy

(2023-24 awardee)

The program equips Westmoreland County students with AI and robotics skills through micro-certifications, addressing barriers like transportation while enhancing employability in Southwest PA.

Dina El-Sanfaly, CMU School of Design & Daragh Byrne, CMU School of Architecture

(2023-24 awardee)

The program partners with Industrial Arts Workshop (IAW) and aims to enhance welding and metal fabrication skills for high school students, particularly from underserved communities, through after-school and summer programs. The curriculum teaches welding techniques, safety, and soft skills, and incorporate augmented reality tools to connect creative and technical learning, offering participants potential career paths in design and advanced manufacturing.

Lee Branstetter, CMU Heinz College

(2023-24 awardee)

This initiative leverages advanced learning technologies to improve retention and skill-building for CCAC IT students, aligning training with industry needs and creating pathways to employment.

New Century Careers

(2024-25 awardee)

This project expands its on the MANUFACTURING 2000 (M2K) Pre-apprenticeship Program by incorporating robotics/automation training and industry-recognized credentialing to better prepare trainees for entry-level manufacturing technician roles. The program offers tuition-free training, job placement assistance, and access to recognized credentials, targeting a diverse range of candidates, including military veterans, individuals with disabilities, and members of marginalized communities, with cohorts starting bi-monthly.

Catalyst Connection

(2024-25 awardee)

This program expands the "Forging Your Future" curriculum by adding an introduction to blueprint reading and a self-guided career journey activity, aimed at increasing awareness of manufacturing career pathways in underrepresented communities. The funding will support curriculum development, promotion, and outreach through targeted advertising, community partnerships, and regional events.

Prototype PGH

(2024-25 awardee)

The Prototype PGH Incubator program will train and place women and vulnerable populations from underrepresented communities in advanced manufacturing careers by addressing barriers like transportation, childcare, and access to education. Partnering with CMU’s Manufacturing Futures Institute, the 2025 cohort will provide technical training, honorariums, and support services, aiming for 100% job placement in the manufacturing sector.

Phase 4 Learning Center, Inc.

(2024-25 awardee)

The Phase 4 Virtual Manufacturing ProTrainer (P4VMPT) is a one-year pilot program starting October 1, 2024, that combines VR-based training through Transfr with Catalyst Connection’s advanced manufacturing curriculum to upskill 20 individuals from at-risk communities. Through quarterly cohorts of five participants each, the program offers hands-on training, work-readiness support, and pathways to entry-level manufacturing jobs or apprenticeship programs, aiming to enhance career opportunities in advanced manufacturing.

Dr. Luis Monterrubio, Robert Morris University

(2024-25 awardee)

The RMU Engineering Department, in collaboration with the RMU Center for Veterans and Military Families and Pittsburgh Chapter of NTMF, will lead an 8-week training program in Industrial Automation and Robotics targeting blue-collar workers, veterans, military families, women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities. Starting in November 2024, the program will cover industrial robotics, cobotics, and device control, with expertise from a multidisciplinary team to prepare participants for advanced manufacturing careers.

Community Forge

(2024-25 awardee)

The program recruits and trains youth and adults in robotics and advanced manufacturing through a three-phase process: outreach, job readiness and technical training, and placement. Participants will receive stipends, job shadowing, and connections to employers, with ongoing support to ensure successful placements.

Peter Zhang and Swarun Kumar, Carnegie Mellon University

(2024-25 awardee)

The program will train technicians, engineers, and managers in optimizing human-robot collaboration in AI-driven manufacturing while emphasizing advanced safety protocols. Led by experts in supply chain optimization and robotic safety, the three-month curriculum starting June 2025 will teach graph optimization, predictive analytics, digital twin modeling, and safety integration, prioritizing inclusivity for underrepresented participants and preparing graduates for critical roles in automated manufacturing.

Melisa Orta Martinez, Carnegie Mellon University

(2024-25 awardee)

This project features a six-week robotics and mechatronics training program targeting marginalized groups in Southwestern Pennsylvania to prepare them for technical roles in robotics and advanced manufacturing startups. Developed collaboratively by experts in academia, industry, and community activism, the program combines hands-on learning and constructivist teaching methods to build foundational skills in circuitry, firmware, and mechanical design, with a pilot cohort of 15 participants planned for September 2025.

Erica Cochran Hameen, Carnegie Mellon University

(2024-25 awardee)

This project will develop an Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) curriculum to teach students how to assess and improve indoor spaces using robotics, advanced sensing technology, and hands-on training. The course will focus on energy efficiency, sustainability, and equitable design, targeting individuals from the Homewood community and preparing them for careers in the Green Jobs sector.

Read more about Build Back Better

Block Center for Technology and Society

Leveraging innovation and public policy for social good.

Rapid advances in technology continue to reshape our society, economy, and workplaces. These changes bring both opportunities and challenges for the workforce.

We are committed to understanding and addressing the human impact of these shifts—ensuring that innovation supports equity, inclusion, and the well-being of people. Our work centers on building policies and practices that guide technological change toward serving the common good.

Block by Block: Hong Shen

Block by Block: Research at Work is a new research spotlight series that highlights the innovative work being done by CMU researchers through the Block Center, showcasing how their projects are driving impactful solutions at the intersection of technology and society.

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