JACKSON, Wyo. — The University of Wyoming (UW) announced on Wednesday that it has received almost $9 million in funding to lead artificial intelligence (AI) innovation efforts across the state.
The university secured $6.25 million in donation commitments from private donors, businesses and foundations for sponsored research projects, which then allowed for a $2.5 million match in funding from the state.
“This investment reflects our commitment to positioning Wyoming as a leader in AI,” UW President Ed Seidel said in the announcement. “By combining state-of-the-art research with real-world applications across energy, agriculture, health care and more, we are empowering our students, faculty, communities and industries to thrive in an AI-driven future.”
The research projects supported by funds from companies and foundations will delve into areas like livestock management, wildlife, wild raptors, nuclear, hydrogen, energy exploration and more.
The Wyoming Migration Initiative is one of the many programs under the AI Initiative umbrella. The migration program was created in 2012 to advance the understanding, appreciation and conservation of Wyoming’s migratory ungulates by conducting innovative research and sharing scientific information through public outreach.
In 2023, the Wyoming Migration Initiative collaborated with Grand Teton National Park to produce a documentary called “Animal Trails” that chronicled the large mammal migrations of the park.
Another program supported by the AI Intiative is UW’s WyldTech Center for Wildlife, Technology and Computing. According to UW’s website, WyldTech’s vision is to “leverage new technologies, big data and computational advances to understand and conserve Wyoming’s wildlife on working and changing landscapes.”
An unrelated July article by the Associated Press states that a new AI data center will soon be built near Cheyenne. The data center would begin by using 1.8 gigawatts of electricity and eventually work its way up to 10 gigawatts. A gigawatt can power up to 1 million homes.
