Is AI Ready for a Business Solution in Montana?

Artificial intelligence is in the spotlight this week, as the University of Montana's Bureau of Business and Economic Research makes that the focus of its statewide Economic Outlook Seminar.

The timing couldn't be better with a renewed focus on AI because of new engineering breakthroughs and volatility in the financial markets.

However, BBER isn't trying to answer all the questions, but rather to get Montana business leaders discussing the impacts of AI, and most importantly, the advantage it could give them in the years to come.

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How will artificial intelligence impact the growth of Montana's economy?

BBER Director Jeff Michael says the discussions are to get business leaders focused on how A-I will be incorporated into their future growth.

"We were thinking, let's look out a couple of decades this time in terms of a theme," Michaels tells me. "Something that's really going to impact us long term, as well as how AI is really impacting us right now. So over the next couple of years, we're going to see extreme changes in the economy as this technology is implemented."

RELATED: Montana Still Facing Employment Challenges

More impact than the Internet

It's been 30 years since the Internet started to have impacts on Montana's business and employment. Michaels says the transition to artificial intelligence is similar to that but could be even more impactful.

"The applications are numerous," Michaels admits. "We don't know them all and they're going to be different in every industry. But in terms of a really changing productivity, it does seem like it dates back to sort of the advent of the Internet in the Nineties."

"But AI really can change the way that work gets done and help people get tasks done faster and more efficiently in many, many, many different fields."

While many worry about job losses, he says AI may actually make it easier to find and hire people with the right skills.

Looking in the business toolbox

While the news has been full of headlines about the arrival of the new "Deepseek" AI model from China this week, raising questions about AI investment, Micheals says the BBER seminars are focused on the broader question of business use of AI in Montana.

"Thought (is) to lead to an increase in productivity and wealth and economic growth," Micheals tells me. "People need to know how to take advantage of it and to use that technology in order to in order to benefit.

Keynote speakers will include Paul Gladen, Associate Vice President for Research & Economic Development and the Director of Accelerate Montana, the University of Montana’s portfolio of economic and workforce development programs. Paul is a co-founder of the Montana Code School and the Hellgate Venture Network, an entrepreneurial networking group.

Presentations statewide

The seminar was stopping in Missoula today, before traveling to Billings, Bozeman and Butte next week. Full schedule and registration info on the seminar website.