Mar. 21, 2025
HARRISBURG – On Thursday, the Pennsylvania Artificial Intelligence (AI) Opportunity Task Force, chaired by Rep. Stephenie Scialabba (R-Butler), conducted site tours and a joint federal and state field hearing to learn more about the research, development and applications of AI in the Commonwealth from industry leaders and the Armed Forces.
“The task force began the day with a tour of the ‘Underground’ at Iron Mountain in Butler County, a top-level, highly secure, underground data storage facility that operates data centers and handles contracts with both the U.S. government and many private companies around the globe. It is also one of Butler County’s largest employers,” said Scialabba. “We then joined Bob McCafferty, owner of North Country Brew Pub in Slippery Rock, at his restaurant for lunch and to discuss the small business climate in PA.”
In the afternoon, members of the task force visited Gecko Robotics in Pittsburgh. The company is the brainchild of Grove City alums and is a pioneer in the AI and robotics industry. Gecko Robotics is transforming how to build, operate and maintain critical infrastructure.
The joint federal and state field hearing on defensive technology was held at Pittsburgh Tech Council – the first of its kind. Attendees included Congressman Mike Kelly; members of the task force; Sam DeMarco, southwestern PA regional director for U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick; and more than a dozen stakeholders from across the defensive technology industry and the U.S. Armed Forces. Testimony focused on national security and autonomy; defensive robotics; tax issues related to amortizing research and development of AI; and domestic energy production that would power AI and simultaneously boost national, energy and economic security.
For more information about the Pennsylvania Artificial Intelligence (AI) Opportunity Task Force, visit
pahousegop.com/AIopportunity.
Representative Stephenie Scialabba
12th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Tricia Lehman
717-772-9840
tlehman@pahousegop.com
repscialabba.com