Topic
The people and institutions building AI in Chicago and Illinois — downtown revitalization, the quantum park, civic and community leaders, and the local momentum behind the region's AI economy.
In this episode, host Khullani Abdullahi speaks with Susana Mendoza, Illinois State Comptroller. They discuss using data and transparency to bring Illinois back from a historic fiscal crisis, what AI means for government and the workforce, and why good governance and a builder's mindset matter for Chicago's future.
In this episode, host Khullani Abdullahi speaks with Harley Johnson, PhD, CEO of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP). They discuss where AI meets quantum computing, why compute is strategy, how Illinois is building a state-backed deep-tech ecosystem on a former South Side steel site, and what a quantum-ready workforce looks like.
In this episode, host Khullani Abdullahi speaks with Michael Edwards, President and CEO of the Chicago Loop Alliance. They discuss the transformation of downtown Chicago from an office district to an experience district, the economic power of arts and culture, and what makes cities relevant in an age of remote work.
In this episode, host Khullani Abdullahi speaks with Karen Freeman-Wilson, President and CEO of the Chicago Urban League and former Mayor of Gary, Indiana. They discuss ensuring Black communities aren't left behind in the AI revolution, workforce development, breaking credential barriers, and building comprehensive community-based AI training programs.
Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza inherited a $16.7 billion bill backlog, a near-junk credit rating, and a rainy-day fund with $48,000. Nine years later: ten credit upgrades and a payment cycle cut from 210 days to 13. She joins AI in Chicago to discuss what fiscal-crisis management teaches us about the AI transition ahead.
Most business leaders have quantum filed under “maybe in 10-15 years.” After sitting down with Harley Johnson, CEO of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park, I'm convinced that timeline needs to move up - significantly.
In Q4 2025, 1.2 million people came to the Loop for arts and culture, spending $512 million in a single quarter. This is not a downtown in decline—it's a downtown in transformation.
How a Harvard-educated former mayor is ensuring Black communities aren't left behind in the AI revolution through workforce development, entrepreneurship support, and policy advocacy.
Illinois has chosen to be an Engineering State for Quantum, but remains a Lawyerly State for AI. By pouring capital almost exclusively into experimental quantum physics while neglecting the immediate need for conventional AI infrastructure, Illinois is creating a utility gap.