Lieutenant Governor of Maryland Aruna Miller emphasized the state’s strong commitment to artificial intelligence, declaring that “AI isn’t the future, it is the present.” She affirmed Maryland’s plans to integrate AI into the state for the benefit of its residents.

Miller delivered her keynote address at the Startup Bazaar, hosted by The American Bazaar in partnership with the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, in College Park, on April 12, 2025.

Addressing an audience of students, AI experts, investors, and business leaders, Miller noted, “AI is shaping everything from ethics to economics, from public policy to personal lives, and that’s why Governor Wes Moore and I are committed to integrating artificial intelligence into state government, responsibly, ethically, equitably, and transparently.”

She was joined at the event by Maryland Secretary of Education Sanjay Rai, Secretary of General Services Atif Chaudhry, and Dean of the Smith School of Business, Prabhudev Konana.

“We know AI isn’t just a tool, it’s a force, and we want that force working for the people, not around them,” Miller emphasized. She explained that this belief was central to Governor Moore’s decision to appoint Nishan Shah as Maryland’s first Senior Advisor for Responsible AI. The goal, she said, is to ensure that “AI is used responsibly, equitably and productively, and to raise our own state’s AI IQ.”

Miller highlighted Maryland’s leadership in convening academic minds around AI. She recalled that earlier this year, the state hosted its inaugural Academia AI Roundtable, bringing together top academic leaders to explore opportunities for collaboration and to maximize AI capabilities.

“Governor Moore and I know for sure the potential and the responsibility that comes with AI,” she said. “Because this moment we’re in, it’s not just about what technology can do, it’s about what we choose to do with it. It’s about how do we apply it to improve lives for others? AI is not just the future. It is the Now.”

Though not a startup founder herself, Miller told the audience, “I have never pitched to a venture capitalist. But I pitch Maryland everywhere I go.” She encouraged residents to serve as ambassadors for the state, attracting both talent and businesses to Maryland.

“So why is a small but mighty state like Maryland so epic?” she asked, describing the state as a “brain trust for the nation.” Maryland boasts the highest concentration of employed Ph.D. scientists and engineers, ranks first in the country for state-owned minority businesses, and is the most educated state overall. It is home to 60 federal agencies, 20 military installations, and 74 federal research labs.

She also pointed out that Maryland is home to 57 colleges and universities, including four “outstanding HBCUs.” She noted that Morgan State University graduates the highest percentage of Black engineers in the United States.

Quoting an economist, Miller remarked that for the United States – or Maryland – to remain globally competitive, three elements are essential: “innovation, immigration, and procreation.”

Maryland, she noted, is leading the way in work-family policy with its recently passed Family Leave Act, which guarantees 12 weeks of paid leave for both mothers and fathers.

Dean Konana underscored the Smith School’s AI initiatives, including the launch of its Center for AI in Business, led by Balaji Padmanabhan. Padmanabhan, who previously taught the first AI course at a business school in the U.S. while at Wharton, now leads several AI-focused initiatives in Maryland.

Konana also highlighted the school’s successful AI for Small Business program, launched in partnership with the Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation. “It turned out 100 percent of the businesses that participated were minority-owned. We didn’t do it for minority, but it so happened,” he said, noting growing interest in expanding the initiative statewide. He described the development as “a game changer.”

He also cited collaborations with various state departments – including Commerce, Labor, Veterans Affairs, Higher Education, and Transportation – and said the school is exploring a partnership with the Department of General Services. 

The school has also initiated the Enterprise Risk Consortium, working with over 20 companies, including Google and Fannie Mae, to explore risks ranging from climate change to cybersecurity. In addition, the Smith School has launched a free AI and career advancement certificate program aimed at recently displaced federal employees and others.

The day-long event also featured several panel discussions on the transformative potential of AI in business, government, and society.

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