Leading the way on AI: Eye on the future - WSU prepares for the next chapter
Washington State University is putting AI to work on problems that matter at home. With $50 million in new federal funding, WSU will build core infrastructure for a precision aquaculture research center, spanning the Pullman campus and the Puyallup Research & Extension Center.
The goal is direct: improve Pacific salmon health, grow sustainable aquaculture, and protect Washington's waterways. The investment also seeds a regional hub that integrates AI with field science, engineering, and policy.
WSU's system-wide push
WSU is expanding AI capacity across research programs, partnerships, and compute. The focus is practical: accelerate application development, enable cross-institution projects, and support Washington's people and businesses.
"We're looking at where WSU's strengths align with federal, state, tribal, and industry needs," said Kim Christen, vice president for research. "We are actively seeking out collaborations that have the most impact for our economy, that benefit the health of our communities, and that secure our energy future."
Why the PNNL partnership matters
WSU's long-standing collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is a force multiplier. Joint work already spans nuclear science, grid systems and security, and bioproducts, with co-affiliated faculty and more than 800 WSU alumni at PNNL.
This puts WSU and PNNL in position for DOE's Genesis Mission, which will connect all 17 national labs into a unified platform of supercomputers and AI systems. The mission targets three fronts: the energy future (nuclear, fusion, grid modernization), scientific discovery, and national security-areas where WSU has proven strengths.
The outcome: faster science, distributed AI infrastructure, and deeper collaboration between labs, industry, and universities. "From a shared investment in AI infrastructure, everyone benefits," Christen said. "And, as we set our shared priorities with PNNL for the next biennium, AI is a key focus."
Industry and state momentum
Washington's research ecosystem has leverage: universities like WSU, a national lab in PNNL, and companies like Microsoft and Amazon. Microsoft is funding efforts to advance AI science, extend tools to educators and students, and partner with universities-including WSU projects through its AI for Good Lab, such as a rural AI roadmap for K-12 schools.
State leaders are preparing policy, too. A task force in the Attorney General's Office is studying AI use across sectors and evaluating governance approaches to guide and regulate adoption.
Coordination is the unlock. Christen emphasized coalition-building across research, industry, and government to align investments and deliver measurable outcomes for Washington.
What this means for researchers and program leads
- Map proposals to high-impact use cases: salmon health, sustainable aquaculture, water systems, grid modernization, nuclear/fusion, and security-relevant science.
- Design projects for multi-institution execution: shared datasets, interoperable workflows, and compute portability between campus resources and national labs.
- Build talent pipelines with co-appointments, joint labs, and student placements-especially with PNNL and regional partners.
- Integrate education and outreach components (K-12 and rural access) to strengthen broader impacts and workforce development.
- Embed responsible AI practices early: data provenance, model documentation, validation against ecological and community outcomes.
Near-term signals to watch
- Federal guidance and calls tied to DOE's Genesis Mission and lab-enabled AI platforms.
- State task force recommendations on AI use, risk management, and transparency.
- WSU infrastructure buildouts in Pullman and Puyallup and new joint research announcements with PNNL.
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