Florida is quickly becoming a hub for innovative forms of technology, with many companies setting up shop in the state to take advantage of its strong emerging technology infrastructure. One such technology that has attracted recent attention is artificial intelligence (AI), a technique that synthesizes and infers information—sometimes looking like magic, despite its computational and logical roots. While companies have been working to incorporate AI into their businesses for years, the boom in interest around OpenAI’s ChatGPT has led to increased attention. From using AI to tackle agricultural and environmental problems to predicting the next COVID variant, Florida is home to many companies using AI technology to uncover important connections within massive data sets in order to increase efficiency and user satisfaction. Some examples of Florida companies incorporating AI into their businesses are UF Health, which is researching patient data and AI programming to assist physician decision-making and potentially improve patients’ environment, and Shutterstock, which has partnered with OpenAI to offer AI-generated stock imagery. Even Florida police officers in Broward County and Pinellas County are using an advanced AI algorithm and facial recognition software, called Clearview, to identify suspects far more quickly than conventional methods.
There are many reasons why Florida is becoming such a popular destination for AI companies. One of the major drivers is the state’s strong emerging technology infrastructure, which includes government grants, tax incentives, and a wealth of Florida-based AI research institutions. Artificial intelligence techniques depend on massive data and cloud computing centers, which in turn rely heavily on affordable electricity, and Florida has electric rates roughly 30% lower than the national average and is one of only four states that exempt electricity sales tax. Furthermore, Florida does not have any state income tax for individuals, which presumably is luring tech entrepreneurs and individuals who service those entrepreneurs, such as venture capitalists, to live and work in the state. Shutterstock, for example, has made significant investments in AI technology and in the state of Florida.
