Pittsburgh’s Rise as America’s AI Deployment Hub
On the eve of Senator McCormick’s Energy & Innovation Summit, a select group of top CEOs and founders will gather in Pittsburgh’s Robotics Row to show—and tell—the world why this region is leading the AI revolution.
Through three powerful fireside chats, investors and national leaders will hear directly from the builders turning research into products, and infrastructure into opportunity. This is where AI meets steel, where data runs deep, and where human grit drives technological breakthroughs. With unmatched talent, affordability, and real-world testbeds, Pittsburgh isn’t just ready for the AI economy—it’s defining it.
the agenda
2:30 PM – Arrival & Networking
3:00 PM – Welcoming Remarks
Presented by Gerardo Interiano – SVP of Government Relations and Public Affairs, Aurora Innovation
3:15 PM – Fireside Chat 1: Pittsburgh’s Strategic Edge: Autonomy, AI, and the New Defense Economy
Pittsburgh isn’t just leading in autonomy—it’s redefining the future of national security. With $16 billion in regional defense investment and one of the world’s largest clusters of autonomy developers, this conversation explores how Pittsburgh’s AI and robotics ecosystem is becoming essential infrastructure for America’s defense.
- Speakers:
- John Bares – President & CEO, Carnegie Robotics
- Lt. Col. Eric Schmitz – Portfolio Lead, U.S. Army AI Integration Center
- John Thornton – CEO, Astrobotic
- Moderator: Nicholas Robinson – Global Head of Critical Minerals & Battery Materials and Senior Managing Director, Cerberus Capital Management
4:00 PM – Fireside Chat 2: Why the Next AI Giants Are Scaling in Pittsburgh
From Abridge to Aurora, Pittsburgh is producing AI unicorns that are solving real problems with serious tech. In this session, founders share how Pittsburgh’s affordability, talent density, and deep problem sets give startups the edge to grow fast—and build to last.
- Speakers:
- Dr. Shiv Rao – CEO, Abridge
- Drew Bagnell – Co-Founder & Chief Scientist, Aurora Innovation
- Moderator: Nhi Lê – Investor, Alpha Intelligence Capital
4:40 PM – Fireside Chat 3: Powering Intelligence: Pittsburgh’s Energy Advantage in the AI Era
AI breakthroughs demand immense power—and Pittsburgh delivers. From abundant natural gas to next-gen battery innovation, the region’s energy assets are becoming a key enabler of AI scale and national competitiveness. This session explores how Pittsburgh is positioned to lead as energy and AI converge.
- Speakers:
- Jake Loosararian – CEO, Gecko Robotics
- Joe Mastrangelo – CEO, EOS Energy
- Alan Shepard – President & CFO, CNX Resources
- Moderator: Salena Zito – National Political Reporter
5:15 PM – Closing & Call to Action
An invitation to collaborate with the builders, investors, and institutions shaping America’s next innovation economy.