NEW BRUNSWICK - The world of AI is a diverse one.

Mikie Sherrill on Tuesday joined academics from New Jersey's top universities to highlight the launch of the New Jersey Supercomputer Initiative (NJSCI), which is envisioned to "drive the next generation of research, innovation, education, and workforce development across the Garden State," the governor's office said.

Sherrill said the "supercomputer" will strive to solve "humanity's largest problems."

All this, admittedly, sounds a bit abstract, the governor said.

But at the same time, it is right in line with New Jersey's innovative past. As is often mentioned, Thomas Edison perfected the light bulb in New Jersey - Menlo Park to be exact.

This latest initiative is a more than $125 million public-private partnership.

"This is ... world changing research," she said.

How so?

The governor and other speakers spoke of studying the brain in hopes of unlocking the mystery of Alzheimer's and how to prevent it, studying the coast line to determine how to prepare for major storms and studying the human spine to prevent, or even reverse, paralysis.

In more bureaucratic verbiage, the governor said in a statement:

"This major initiative will ensure that New Jersey strengthens its longstanding leadership in using new technologies to uncover scientific breakthroughs, to help our students build the skills and experience they need to compete for jobs in high-demand fields, to expand opportunities for our workforce, and to improve quality of life throughout our communities. We look forward to seeing how this game-changing investment in New Jersey’s future will accelerate cures for diseases, strengthen environmental resilience, and solve many other challenges facing our state.”

This initiative arrives during interesting times for AI.

Many towns across the state and nation are seeking to ban AI data centers, primarily for two reasons - fears of pollution and perhaps more prominently, concerns that AI will eliminate many jobs.

On this day, however, the only talk was about the great things AI can do.

Again, from the governor's office statement:

"This initiative will be supported by more than $125 million in public and private investment. That includes a $75 million personal gift from Chris and Melody Malachowsky. Chris is a co-founder of NVIDIA and a Monmouth County native. The initiative is also benefitting from a $25 million investment from SHI International, a leading IT company based in Somerset County. SHI is working alongside the state and its university partners to provide the technical and strategic guidance needed to bring the initiative forward.

The NJ Supercomputer Initiative is a partnership between all eight of New Jersey’s higher education research institutions -  Kean University, Montclair State University, the New Jersey Institute of Technology, Princeton University, Rowan University, Rutgers University, Seton Hall University, and Stevens Institute of Technology -  as well as the NJ Council of County Colleges."

At the conclusion of the presentation at the New Jersey Innovation Hub, the governor asked if there were any on topic questions from the press. There were none.

Well, the presentation was pretty thorough. Sherrill said.

Yes. However, not many journalists (myself included), are knowledgeable enough to ask good questions on the topic at hand.