NSF at the AI+ Expo

The U.S. National Science Foundation is advancing artificial intelligence through investments in foundational research, infrastructure and talent that drive the next generation of AI breakthroughs. NSF invests approximately $700 million annually in AI research, education and infrastructure across all 50 states.

NSF invites the research community and public to visit booths #1124 and #749 in the AI+ Expo Exhibit Hall to explore how AI innovations are created, scaled and brought to market. NSF's exhibits will showcase the full AI innovation pipeline — from discovery to deployment to workforce development.

Booth #1124

Will feature researchers from four NSF programs that support the development and translation of breakthrough AI technologies:

National AI Research Institutes

Launched in 2019, the NSF-led National Artificial Intelligence Research Institutes program consists of 29 AI institutes that connect over 500 funded and collaborative institutions across the U.S. and around the world.

The AI Institute for Advances in Optimization will be featured at the AI Expo. The institute focuses on:

• Applying AI to real-world systems like supply chains, energy systems, manufacturing, precision agriculture and chip design.
• Bridging theory and application to improve efficiency across critical sectors.

America's Seed Fund, powered by NSF

Since 1977, America's Seed Fund (also known as the NSF Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer program) has supported thousands of startups and small businesses, transforming scientific discovery into products and services with commercial and societal impact. Startups working across almost all areas of science and technology, including AI systems and AI-based hardware, can receive up to approximately $2 million to support research and development, helping de-risk technology for commercial success.

The company TerraAI will be featured at the AI+ Expo and focuses on developing AI-driven decision-support tools for critical mineral exploration, energy systems and subsurface resource development. It also uses advanced machine learning and geophysical modeling to improve resource discovery and support the development of materials essential for energy and defense.

NSF Engines 

The NSF Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines) program aims to cultivate multiple flourishing regional innovation ecosystems across the U.S., spurring economic growth in regions that have not fully participated in the technology boom of the past few decades.

Each NSF Engine can receive up to $160 million to support the development of regional coalitions of researchers, institutions and companies to conduct research and development.

The NSF ASCEND Engine, strategically centered between Colorado and Wyoming, will be featured at the AI+ Expo and focuses on:

• Advancing sensing and computational analytics technologies to monitor natural resources and improve the prediction of natural hazards risks.
• Developing solutions for water resource management, agriculture and community resilience through research, workforce development and deployment programs.

Mid-Scale Research Infrastructure

The Mid-Scale Research Infrastructure program funds high-impact, high-reward, community-driven infrastructure that fills the gap between individual research grants and large-scale national facilities. Advanced AI depends on access to large-scale models, tools and computing resources. NSF is expanding access to these resources through national infrastructure investments, including:

• Advanced AI models. 
• High-performance computing. 
• AI-ready test beds. 
• NSF-led National AI Research Resource. 

The Open Multimodal AI Infrastructure to Accelerate Science project, a public-private partnership between NSF and NVIDIA, will be featured at the AI+ Expo and focuses on:

• Fully open, multimodal large language models designed to support scientific research across disciplines.
• Enabling AI-driven breakthroughs, including the discovery of new materials and protein function prediction for biomedical advancements.

Booth #749

We will showcase NSF's investments in the next generation of AI innovators through the Advanced Technological Education, Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers, NSF STEM K-12, and Discovery Research PreK-12 programs. Featured projects and initiatives advance AI literacy, workforce development and hands-on STEM education, including:

The National Applied AI Consortium, which focuses on:

• Applied AI education and workforce development through faculty training, curriculum design and accessible learning resources.
• Building connections among academic institutions, industry partners and educators to align AI education with workforce needs and expand national pathways to AI careers.

Another project that will be featured is the 7^th Patient, an educational AI game developed by Ning Wang from the University of Southern California, designed to teach probability and artificial intelligence while addressing the need to help the nation's youth learn the fundamentals of AI.

Featured Speakers

NSF will take center stage at the AI+ Expo, highlighting its leadership in advancing artificial intelligence through four key pillars: foundational research, translational and use-inspired research, infrastructure and workforce, and education. Together, these investments demonstrate how NSF supports a coordinated national AI strategy and strengthens U.S. leadership in innovation.

Through these sessions, attendees will gain direct insight into how NSF is accelerating discovery, enabling real-world applications, building the infrastructure that powers AI, and preparing a skilled workforce to lead in the technologies shaping the future.

Brian Stone

Performing the duties of the NSF Director

Brian Stone will deliver a keynote address titled "Leading Research Innovation for the Next 250 Years." His remarks will highlight NSF's vision for advancing artificial intelligence through foundational research, national infrastructure and talent development, as well as its role in supporting U.S. national defense by funding fundamental research that underpins current and future capabilities. The keynote will underscore NSF's role in driving innovation across the entire AI ecosystem, from early-stage discovery to real-world deployment and emphasize the importance of sustained investment in science and technology to ensure continued U.S. leadership in AI.

When:
Thursday, May 7, 2026 | 2:15-2:30 p.m. EDT | South Stage

James L. Moore III

Assistant Director for STEM Education

James L. Moore III will lead a featured session focused on "AI careers and workforce pathways." The discussion will explore the rising demand for AI talent, emerging career opportunities across industries and the essential role of education and training in building a highly skilled science, technology, engineering and mathematics workforce. Attendees will gain insight into how NSF-supported AI initiatives are supporting learners and innovators at all levels to pursue careers in this rapidly evolving field.

When:
Friday, May 8, 2026 | 12-12:25 p.m. EDT | Careers Stage