AI in Tennessee: 2 Perspectives

AI consultant Carlton Davis and Cody York, Rutherford County chief information officer and appointed member of the State of Tennessee Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council, delivered AI-focused keynotes at the recent KYRBA/TNBA Fall Conference. Their approaches were worlds apart, but ultimately they reached the same conclusion: The broadband industry needs to prepare for exponential growth in connectivity demands.

Tennessee’s AI Game Plan

Cody explained why Tennessee is uniquely positioned to become a national leader in AI. The state has plenty of the 2 big things AI facilities need, namely power and water. The former Manhattan Project laboratory in Oak Ridge has evolved into a major hub for quantum computing and AI research. Cody calls Tennessee’s approach a “long on-ramp,” moving carefully while other states sprint ahead and stumble. His prediction: Within 5 years, AI will be a normal part of state and local government, cutting tasks that used to take all day down to just half an hour.

Putting AI to Work

Carlton talked about how AI is expanding and evolving more rapidly than any technology before it. It took the internet several years to hit mass adoption, but AI did it in just 2 months. He said we’re still in the early “hype cycle,” figuring out what’s real and what’s not. His advice: Treat AI like a smart coworker. Use it to think through ideas and make tasks easier with prompting that provides context, gives AI a clear task, and let it ask questions. For broadband companies, AI can already help spot equipment issues before they happen, check infrastructure using images, and make field crews more efficient. But Carlton warned: If your system’s broken, AI won’t magically fix it. Get the basics right first, then bring AI into the mix.

The Takeaway

AI’s growth will require stronger networks. Hosting and running AI models takes serious bandwidth and relies heavily on local internet providers. Tennessee’s AI advisory meetings are open to the public, showing the state’s commitment to innovation without unnecessary red tape. Carlton wrapped up with a smart reminder: Always look for ways to do things faster, better, or cheaper, but keep your guard—and your guardrails—up.