Fleischmann says Tennessee can lead in AI and Quantum Computing

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – News 12 spoke with Congressman Chuck Fleischmann, who is pushing for more investment in artificial intelligence and quantum computing.

He says the technology is already moving beyond consumer use and is becoming a key part of national security.

“The race for global power is shifting to technology, with artificial intelligence leading the way,” Fleischmann said. “Tennessee is uniquely positioned and poised to do something that the Department of Energy wants to do and that the country needs.”

Fleischmann says combining supercomputing, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence is critical to keeping the United States competitive on a global scale.

“So, taking those three, supercomputing, quantum computing, and AI computing, and putting them together is how we make sure that we can lead and win this AI race,” he said.

He emphasized that artificial intelligence is no longer limited to consumer applications like ChatGPT, but is now being integrated into national security efforts.

“The rest of the world, our adversaries, are investing in this,” Fleischmann said. “I want the United States to dominate in that area. Whether it is energy, AI, pick the discipline, pick the endeavor, I want us to be in first place.”

According to Fleischmann, staying competitive means investing in long term research, including artificial intelligence and quantum computing, and he believes Tennessee will play a leading role.

“I have spoken with the Secretary of Energy,” he said. “I have spoken with the people he has charged with this. The rest of the country will be involved, but I have all 17 national lab directors involved in this project.”

Fleischmann says those investments are essential not only for innovation, but for long term national security and economic growth.

“When America is the strongest economic power and the strongest scientific power,” he said, “we will continue to be the strongest nation in the world.”