Salt Lake City, Utah — December 3, 2025 — As Utah establishes itself as a prominent innovation hub in the United States, the state is strategically addressing the future of artificial intelligence (AI) by centering its development around human values. The 2025 Utah AI Summit, themed “Utah’s Pro-Human Leadership in the Age of AI,” brought together leaders from government, industry, and academia on December 2, 2025, to discuss how Utah is shaping AI policy to enhance human potential.
Hosted by the Utah Department of Commerce, the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO), and the Nucleus Institute, the summit attracted researchers, entrepreneurs, and educators. Notable discussions included fireside chats featuring Utah Governor Spencer Cox, Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince, and actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, addressing both the opportunities and challenges posed by AI technology.
Jefferson Moss, Executive Director of GOEO and the Nucleus Institute, underscored the summit’s significance, stating, “We’re at an inflection point with artificial intelligence. Just a few years from now, $3 trillion is expected to be spent globally on AI. We’re seeing impacts not just on the economy, but on how we live, learn, and work.”
Margaret Woolley Busse, Executive Director of the Utah Department of Commerce, echoed this urgency, emphasizing the transformative potential of AI while cautioning against the risks of misuse. “People are excited, they’re anxious, and rightfully so,” she noted. Utah has invested heavily in responsible AI initiatives, including a $100 million commitment to the University of Utah’s responsible AI initiative and the establishment of an internationally recognized Office of AI Policy.
Governor Cox delivered a frank keynote, reflecting on his past optimism regarding technology’s role in society. He cautioned against unchecked tech growth, illustrating its societal costs: “Those very tools that I believed would lead to human connection have been used to manipulate us, to divide us—to strip mine our souls.” He emphasized that Utah has a unique opportunity to guide AI development toward positive outcomes, asserting, “We cannot let AI park us on a couch or make us dumber than we’ve ever been.”
Cox outlined six pillars of Utah’s “pro-human AI” framework, focusing on workforce development, industry collaboration, public policy, and academia. “AI must be human-enhancing,” he asserted, emphasizing that technology should empower individuals and strengthen communities rather than diminish them.
To operationalize these principles, various initiatives were announced. These include the Pro-Human AI Academic Consortium to tackle ambitious challenges, the Convergence AI Platform to connect students and startups, and the Best Pro-Human AI Companies Award to recognize responsible innovation. Additionally, a $10 million initiative under Talent Ready Utah aims to equip the workforce with essential AI skills in rapidly evolving sectors.
Matthew Prince, during his fireside chat with Cox, framed AI as both a tool and a test of leadership. He highlighted the incompatibility of generative AI with the click-driven economy that has defined the internet for decades, urging the need for a paradigm shift. “AI can help cure diseases, clean our environment, enhance learning—but only if it’s designed to amplify human potential rather than diminish it,” he stated.
Prince emphasized the importance of local journalism as a safeguard against the manipulative tendencies of AI. He noted that local news, which is inherently tied to the community, cannot be replicated by AI algorithms. This perspective aligns with the broader dialogue on the need for ethical AI development, as both Cox and Prince stressed the importance of preserving the integrity of human relationships in an increasingly digital world.
Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, in a separate discussion, underscored the human dimension of technological advancements. He cautioned against the emotional manipulation that AI can exert, particularly on vulnerable populations such as children. “If AI can approximate friendship, romance, mentorship, community, even parental warmth, then society must adapt just as aggressively as the technology evolves,” he remarked.
As the summit concluded, it was clear that Utah aims to set a precedent for other states by implementing a roadmap for responsible AI development. The focus is not only on innovation but also on ensuring that it aligns with human-centric values. “AI can change life for the better, but only if we choose to make it so,” Cox asserted. With bold educational initiatives and workforce strategies, Utah is positioning itself as a model for the responsible integration of AI, fostering a landscape where technology amplifies human potential while safeguarding community integrity.
See also
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