Mississippi is carving a new path in its artificial intelligence landscape by partnering with technology company NVIDIA to expand AI education, research and workforce development across the state.

Similar to other NVIDIA partnerships in California, Utah and Oregon, the agreement — formalized through a memorandum of understanding — brings hands-on AI training to Mississippi’s classrooms, colleges and workforce programs statewide. Mississippi residents will now have access to the company’s cloud-based tools and platforms, expanding their available resources and learning capabilities. Educators certified through NVIDIA’s Deep Learning Institute will provide training, offered through state colleges, universities and community-based sites.

The teaming, announced June 18, connects NVIDIA, the Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network (MAIN), the Mississippi Development Authority, AccelerateMS and the Mississippi governor’s office.

In a statement, Gov. Tate Reeves said working with NVIDIA is a major step forward for Mississippi’s future and emphasized the collaboration’s potential to reshape the state’s economy.

“By expanding AI education, investing in workforce development and encouraging innovation, we, along with NVIDIA, are creating a pathway to dynamic careers in AI and cybersecurity for Mississippians,” Reeves said. “These are the in-demand jobs of the future — jobs that will change the landscape of our economy for generations to come.”

That future-focused vision resonated with NVIDIA, which had already established ties in Mississippi through earlier work with Mississippi State University. Once company officials learned about the coordinated AI work happening across the state, MAIN Director Kollin Napier said, they saw a chance to play a larger role.

“The opportunity to partner with NVIDIA served to amplify our mission,” Napier said. “Mississippi stood out because of the strong foundation built through MAIN, which had already reached thousands of learners through free, accessible AI training programs and established a model of coordination across education, workforce and industry.”

The partnership aims to strengthen classroom instruction, but it goes beyond traditional education. The state plans to roll out certifications, hands-on workshops and job-aligned curricula to help learners gain practical skills in AI, machine learning and data science. This includes training opportunities not only at four-year universities, but at technical colleges and workforce hubs.

A major priority of the initiative is expanding access to these opportunities. The trainings are designed to reach rural communities and underserved populations, teaching students and educators to build career pathways for those traditionally excluded from high-tech industries.

At the same time, the state will be a testing ground for AI-powered innovation. Joint research projects between MAIN and other industry partners will explore real-world AI applications across key sectors including agriculture, health care, energy and national security.

In order for these innovations to have a tangible economic impact, Mississippi is also working with NVIDIA to help local businesses adopt AI tools, introducing machine learning and data technologies into their operations to boost productivity and competitiveness, according to Napier.

“Over the next year, these efforts will scale into precision agriculture training at community colleges and live demonstrations for producers statewide,” he said, citing an example in the farming sector: AI, he said, is helping optimize yields, monitor soil and water conditions, and detect crop disease earlier — benefits that could significantly improve outcomes in Mississippi’s rural areas.

For NVIDIA, these kinds of real-world applications underscore why Mississippi stood out as a strong partner. The state’s commitment to blending education, workforce development and industry engagement directly supported the company’s broader goals.

“Together, we will enhance economic growth through an AI-skilled workforce, advanced research and industry engagement, positioning Mississippi as a hub for AI-driven transformation to the benefit of its communities,” Louis Stewart, head of strategic initiatives for NVIDIA’s global developer ecosystem, said.

That plan aligns with Mississippi’s broader strategy to not only prepare talent but to attract high-tech investment.

“The state is building a workforce that is skilled, certified and ready to support innovation, which positions Mississippi as a serious contender for attracting tech companies and AI-driven industries,” Napier said. “This initiative is not just about preparing people for jobs; it is about bringing the jobs to Mississippi.”

The state, he said, is not merely focused on building skills — but also on building trust. Napier said leaders are weaving ethics, cybersecurity and privacy into every part of their AI ecosystem. MAIN’s programs teach not only the technical side of AI, but how to design systems responsibly, reduce bias and understand the broader impacts of emerging technologies.

To track how things are going, the state is keeping an eye on workforce milestones like certifications earned, job placements and participation in training. But real success will be measured not just by those numbers, Napier said, but by the doors that open for people as a result.

With partnerships across government, education and industry, he said he hopes Mississippi will become a model for how other states can approach AI, not just with bold goals but with purpose, coordination and real impact.

Through MAIN, and by working with NVIDIA, Napier said, the state is “modeling how to bring AI opportunities to every corner of a population, including rural and underserved communities,” and demonstrating “what it looks like to lead with purpose, align across sectors, and build an AI ecosystem that is ethical, inclusive and built for long-term impact.”