(NewsDakota.com) — Submitted by Lucy Wyndham — The artificial intelligence (AI) market is projected to reach an impressive $407 billion by 2027 — a prediction that demonstrates substantial growth from its estimated $86.9 billion revenue in 2022. AI has established a strong presence over the past few years and has brought significant advantages to more than a few industries from improving consumer experiences to efficiently lightening workloads. In North Dakota, AI is already taking hold in several ways, all the while bringing to light both the opportunities and threats.
Advantages and cautions highlight AI potential
AI is rapidly becoming more prevalent in a range of industries nationwide, from business to healthcare and beyond. One CNN Business article spotlights Bill Gates’ beliefs of how AI will fit into the future on a broader scale, with history showing that every new technology brings fear before new opportunity. “As we had [with] agricultural productivity in 1900, people were like ‘Hey, what are people going to do?’ In fact, a lot of new things, a lot of new job categories were created and we’re way better off than when everybody was doing farm work,” Gates explained. “This will be like that.”
AI is already showcasing unique benefits in North Dakota. In the medical sector, Sanford Fargo is the first facility in the state to use the Medtronic GI Genius, the first FDA-cleared AI-assisted colonoscopy. The GI Genius uses AI to help physicians detect potentially precancerous polyps that can lead to colorectal cancer. When considering the value of early detection in detecting (and beating) colon cancer, the technology can be especially valuable. “Colorectal cancer is the second deadliest cancer in the United States, but it doesn’t have to be,” says Dr. John Bassett, Sanford Health gastroenterologist. “This new technology can help detect colorectal cancer early when treatments are most effective.”
Other advancements further highlight the applications of AI in other industries throughout the state, though the successful integration of the technology is not without its challenges. Privacy concerns, ethical dilemmas, security risks, and job displacement are just a few of several prominent concerns raised by artificial intelligence.
In early 2024, North Dakota University System (NDUS) Chancellor Mark Hagerott was invited to share his thoughts on AI and its effects on education, government, business, and industry while presenting to attendees at Dakota Stage during the 1 Million Cups Bismarck-Mandan forum. “It’s going to change healthcare, the entertainment world, create incredible wealth, but it will also bring social, governmental and even mental health challenges,” Hagerott noted. “And as massive investment continues in AI, North Dakota needs to start thinking ahead about how it will invest in data infrastructure to ensure our state does not get left behind.”
North Dakota optimism
Data from the North Dakota Monitor shows that North Dakota agencies are optimistic in regard to incorporating AI, though reservations remain. While it’s noted that some North Dakota agencies already use artificial intelligence for tasks that lighten workloads, wider use will require “a more measured approach,” according to multiple state officials. A meeting of the Information Technology Committee highlighted the current and possible future applications of AI, with members of the state’s Health and Human Services Department, Secretary of State’s Office and Governor’s Office presenting to lawmakers.
In an interview with Statescoop, North Dakota’s Chief Data Officer, Kimberly Weis, said that the state is currently looking to define its AI strategy. Weis said that the state’s IT department is still planning how to use AI and support state agencies in their use of the technology. She also mentioned that creating an AI strategy is one of the data division’s focus areas, according to the Statescoop article.
“What’s the support that our agencies will need around [AI] because they’re asking a lot of questions, really excited about the potential of AI,” Weis said. “They’re looking to be more efficient, free up staff time, better be able to provide services and respond to changes and needs among our population.” Weis goes on to note that this is an area that they’re “really focused on,” as it aligns well with their data strategy, further emphasizing that it’s all about how to use data more effectively whether it be via AI or other emerging technologies that could be yet to come.
What North Dakotans can expect
States across the U.S. are positioned differently when it comes to withstanding the rise of AI in the job market. North Dakota, along with states such as New Jersey and Nevada boast relatively lower risk scores. This reflects a mix of economies (including agriculture and energy production, as well as service-oriented sectors such as tourism). While AI poses a risk to jobs across the board, the impact will be felt differently across these states due to the dominant industries. States such as Vermont, Virginia, and Massachusetts top the list with high AI risk scores — in the case of Vermont, the score potentially reflects the state’s economy and its unique composition that may include “a significant presence of tech and professional roles” that are susceptible to advancements in artificial intelligence.
The increasingly prevalent use of AI can be anticipated in a variety of sectors, both in North Dakota and on a nationwide scale. Autonomous farming has been evolving for years, with Grand Farm in North Dakota aiming to be the first fully autonomous farm. The 2019 Salon article highlights Brain Carroll, who is spearheading efforts by overseeing Grand Farm, an initiative that is competing with indoor operations (like Iron Ox) to create the “world’s first fully autonomous farm by 2025.” Autonomous farming, according to Salon, is “marked by equipment fueled by artificial intelligence,” and uses machine learning in order to gather and compute data that will help efficiently execute and optimize tasks such as planting and fertilizing crops.
AI has great potential in other industries as well. According to Investopedia, AI has a variety of applications in the business world, and can be used in accounting and finance, customer service, recruitment, cybersecurity, sales and marketing, supply chain and logistics — to highlight just a few. In the restaurant industry, one Forbes post notes that AI has “some obvious uses” in restaurants, from inventory management to organizing shifts and even aiding in food preparation. It can also be used to help waitstaff by tracking refills of drinks, bread, chips, etc., effectively working to improve the customer (and employee) experience.
The rise of artificial intelligence presents a variety of opportunities for the future of North Dakota as well as Americans across the board and in several sectors. With the state already embracing the technology in more ways than one, the potential for future applications is bright.