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Key investments at Virginia Tech, George Mason, University of Virginia help the Commonwealth position itself as a home for AI innovation

George Mason University

Three years after Open Ai launched ChatGPT, Virginia continues to capitalize on its position as a global tech leader to solidify its place in the AI industry. With over 31,000 AI-related job postings in 2024, Virginia ranked fourth nationally in the Stanford AI Index Report, trailing only states with far bigger workforce populations (Texas, California, and New York).

Decades of strategic investment in the technology sector have propelled the Commonwealth to the forefront of the global AI landscape. Dubbed “Silicon Valley East” by Business Traveler, Virginia is unmatched in highly skilled and concentrated tech talent, especially in Northern Virginia. In 2024, the Commonwealth had the third-highest share of technology companies (per WalletHub), and Business Facilities ranked Virginia’s tech talent pipeline third in the country.

Virginia’s position as a top state for tech talent is not by chance, but the product of significant historical and ongoing investments in its tech talent pipeline, including the landmark Tech Talent Investment Program (TTIP). Launched in 2019, TTIP is a $1.1 billion, 20-year commitment to increasing the number of BS and MS graduates in computer science and related fields by at least 30,000. TTIP was conceived as part of Virginia’s 2018 winning proposal to Amazon for its HQ2 facility, and institutions are using TTIP monies and other funding sources to fuel research, facilities, and programs dedicated to expanding and maintaining a robust and innovative tech talent workforce.

“As we expand our three campuses across Northern Virginia to create a thriving tech corridor from Washington D.C. to Prince William County, George Mason and our partners have been propelling the region together,” said George Mason University President Gregory Washington. “The Commonwealth is seeing an enormous return on investment as our students graduate at record numbers and stay to work in the region, helping to propel the state as a leader in business, nationally and globally.”