Commentary
High school journalist Daniel Herrmann returns for Ohio Tech Day 2026 to see local innovation in action. Students at the career center showcased desktop-based offline AI models, workflow acceleration, and practical FANUC robotics programming tailored for modern industrial floors.
Commentary
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose draws parallels to the industrial era, calling for automated government efficiency that roots out financial waste. Crucially, he warns that a shrinking public workforce could disrupt state pension funds if state leaders fail to plan ahead.
Statewide Roundups
Billions are landing in advanced manufacturing, life sciences, aerospace and AI infrastructure. Companies are moving headquarters here, founders are raising big rounds here, and a state now ranked No. 1 for business is building the workforce to match. Capital, deals and jobs from recent weeks.
Commentary
Fifteen years ago, Ohio ranked 34th for business competitiveness. Today, it sits at number one. In this OTN op-ed, Patrick Tiberi explores how a unified state strategy reshaped Ohio into a magnet for advanced tech—and why the state must double down on energy and infrastructure to keep its lead.
Commentary
Deloitte’s Holly Scott introduces a property-developer analogy to tear down fragmented agency silos. Highlighting the InnovateOhio platform as a national model, she illustrates how a unified framework connects millions of residents to thousands of apps while driving down technical costs.
Commentary
Drawing on a powerful papal encyclical, a veteran tech executive critiques Silicon Valley's trend of prioritizing metrics over human dignity. Contrastingly, Midwest institutions and companies offer a sustainable model of responsible capitalism that views human capacity as a lasting asset.
Spotlights
Ohio tech leaders are championing "foundational" innovators like Harmoni, Anduril, and Path Robotics for solving real-world industrial challenges. From closing the digital divide to scaling automotive tech, these organizations are recognized for making Ohio’s tech ecosystem competitive.
Spotlights
Ohio tech leaders remain invested because the state has moved beyond early-stage hype into a period of execution and scale. By pairing deep industrial expertise with favorable tax policies and a maturing network of research and capital, Ohio offers a durable foundation for global innovation.
Commentary
Research indicates that reliance on AI can lead to "cognitive atrophy," with professionals in medicine and tech seeing skills degrade when machines do the thinking. To counter this "Cognitive Rust Belt," organizations must build anti-stagnation infrastructure that keeps humans in the loop.
Spotlights
Ohio tech leaders are shifting focus from AI hype to strategic implementation. Key trends for the next 18 months include the rise of agentic AI, the expansion of quantum computing, and the critical need for fiber and energy infrastructure to support growing data center demands.
Commentary
Deloitte’s Adarsh Desai highlights Ohio as a national leader in government AI modernization. By moving beyond pilots to scale high-value solutions like fraud detection and natural language constituent services, the state is transforming public sector efficiency and accessibility.
Spotlights
Ohio tech leaders are moving beyond generic productivity apps toward AI-native workflows. From Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT for daily problem-solving to specialized tools like Kiro and Claude Code, these leaders are using AI to shift from "building" to "architecting" solutions.