This article originally appeared in the Knoxville News Sentinel on September 3, 2025.
By Ozlem Kilic, Vice Provost and Founding Dean
Artificial intelligence isn’t some futuristic idea. AI is here, woven into daily life. It appears in the scans doctors use to make faster diagnoses, the routes that get packages delivered on time, the systems that keep cars running, and the tools farmers use to plant and harvest with precision.
Across Tennessee, AI works behind the scenes, transforming how we make things, move things, care for people, power our homes, and welcome millions of visitors every year. It is reshaping the way we live, the way we work, and even the way we play.
According to the Tennessee AI Advisory Council’s April 2025 Report to the General Assembly, nearly one in four workers statewide had used generative AI in the past week. The same report projected that more than 500,000 jobs across Tennessee are likely to be augmented, or even replaced, by AI in the coming years.
Our state’s economic pillars – manufacturing, automotive, health care, logistics, energy, finance, agribusiness, and tourism – are already working on integrating AI to improve efficiency, accuracy, and customer experience.Looking for a free mini puzzle? Play the USA TODAY Quick Cross now.
FedEx, which is headquartered in Memphis, uses AI to make accurate predictions about delivery times. The University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville is training AI models to accelerate patient access to treatment plans for breast cancer. The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture is working with Tennessee’s future farmers across the state to use predictive analytics for precision agriculture, while the Tennessee Valley Authority is using AI to build a more resilient energy grid throughout the region.
This is not just a technology story; it is a workforce story. AI will reshape roles across every industry, demanding more than technical expertise. We will need AI literacy, ethical judgment, creativity, and collaboration across disciplines. That is why the Tennessee AI Advisory Council not only outlines the importance of workforce readiness, but also emphasizes ethical AI use, human oversight, and data governance in state agency implementation.
Tennessee could lead the nation in new AI-driven industries
Preparing Tennesseans for AI-driven change is not optional. It is essential.
AI is not just transforming today’s industries. It is paving the way for new industries. In the coming decade, Tennessee could lead the nation in quantum technologies, cybersecurity, smart infrastructure, and advanced mobility. Chattanooga’s EPB is launching the quantum technology center, enabling applications such as grid optimization, quantum-enhanced encryption, and operational efficiency across multiple sectors.
Cybersecurity will gain even more urgency as AI and quantum converge. Tennessee’s unique combination of world-class quantum research at Oak Ridge National Lab, real-world quantum-secured infrastructure in Chattanooga, and expanding interdisciplinary workforce pipelines position the state to lead nationally in developing and deploying quantum-enabled cybersecurity solutions.
AI will also power smart mobility, with research partnerships piloting connected vehicle systems to manage traffic, improve safety, and reduce congestion. In manufacturing, AI-driven digital twins – virtual replicas of systems – enable predictive maintenance, better system design, and enhanced cyber resilience.
These advances have direct commercial applications in fields where Tennessee’s industry and research communities can excel. Realizing this potential will require breaking down silos between research, workforce development, and education.
By complementing the experience and ingenuity of today’s workforce with the adaptability and skills needed for the future, Tennessee can build a talent pipeline that is broader and more capable than ever before. The opportunity is not to trade the old for the new. It is to grow from our strengths and ensure Tennesseans are ready to lead in the jobs of tomorrow.