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Palmetto AI Corridor

Moving at the pace of the state’s innovation

Palmetto AI Corridor

SC Competes launched the Palmetto AI Corridor (PAIC) to connect and grow the communication and influence among our state’s business leaders and AI professionals. In collaboration with the state-level officials, SC Competes is exploring the development of an “AI-Enabled Corridor,” as part of a broader program entitled the “SC Smart Economic Development Plan.” In doing so, we are working to reshape the state’s major supply chains and are conducting an Electric Vehicle (EV) study.

See the SC Competes Boston Dynamics robot, “PAL,” dance at the 2022 SC Manufacturing Conference.

Introducing “PAL,” the State’s First AI Enabled Canine!

In partnership with the SC Department of Commerce and state-level officials, SC Competes acquired the 4-legged robot to promote AI and programming education, opening students’ eyes to the depth of possibilities in careers in tech, advanced manufacturing, and beyond.

Classrooms across the state put in name submissions, and in Spring 2023 we announced the new name for the Boston Dynamics SPOT robot… Palmetto Augmented Learner (PAL)!

The winning name came from Due West, SC’s Dixie High School.

AI-based Education Initiatives

AI Summer Camps with College of Charleston and Trident Technical College

SC Competes is proud to announce a partnership with College of Charleston (CofC) and Trident Technical College (TTC) to host AI summer camps in July 2022. Thanks to appropriations secured from the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief fund (“GEER”), the AI camps, taking place on both the TTC and CofC campuses, are expected to reach more than 1600 students ranging from the ages of 16-24 and will focus on the following academic components:

AI at Home
AI in Smart Cities
AI in Natural Language Processing
AI in Education
AI in Art
AI in Advanced Manufacturing

Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Initiative with Winthrop University and Delta Bravo AI

SC Competes is teaming up with SC Aerospace Partner Delta Bravo AI and Winthrop University to create and launch a Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Initiative. This program will lay the foundation for effective AI skill sets that can roll right into the workforce upon graduation from high school or 2-year or 4-year college. AI is more than just data – it’s intelligent machine output, based on human input of data or algorithms. This program will work to demystify AI and build the skills necessary to execute real-world AI use cases. 2-year and 4-year students will leverage market-leading technology and access to real-world companies, AI challenges and data sets, culminating in paid internships at Delta Bravo AI and participating industry partners.

SC Competes is thrilled to be a part of this program and to see the impact such a program has on the future of the state AI curriculum and how SC students are prepared for tomorrow’s workforce.

AI Standards and Pathways

SC Competes is partnering with the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) to conduct a focused study and support the development of South Carolina’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Standards for secondary students. To meaningfully engage shareholders to support this study, SC Competes has worked with South Carolina leaders to establish a dedicated AI working group under PAIC and is composed of industry representatives, state leaders, and representatives from various academic entities. The AI Pathway and Standards Study is expected to yield the following:

AI-Focused Labor Market Study (Results by Region)
Availability of Postsecondary Training Programs by Region
Valuable Feedback from Industry and Postsecondary Partners
Key Concepts and Skills to be Addressed within the Proposed Secondary Pathway
Attributes and Skills Needed for Secondary AI Pathway Teachers