TechVibe Pittsburgh

Jonathan Kersting

Curious about Pittsburgh's growing technology and innovation industry and the opportunities it has for you? This podcast gives you a front-row seat to the companies, people, and institutions that are making Pittsburgh's tech industry thrive.

Discover the newest tech startups emerging from Pittsburgh; Meet dynamic entrepreneurs driving innovation and creating a rich landscape for tech company growth; and Stay on top of the latest trends from recognized industry experts and thought leaders.

Audrey Russo and Jonathan Kersting of the Pittsburgh Technology Council have interviewed thousands of tech entrepreneurs and business experts across the tPittsburgh region's tech and innovation ecosystem. Get an inside look at the companies, people, and trends that are making Pittsburgh a worldwide center of technology innovation.

Start by diving into Pittsburgh's tech ecosystem with a fan-favorite episode: "Meet the New Head of CMU's Machine Learning Department." Don't miss out—click to listen now!

TechVibe Pittsburgh is produced by the Pittsburgh Technology Council to explore the Pittsburgh region's technology, entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem. Tune in Sundays at 6 AM 10 100.1 FM AM 1020 KDKA.

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Tuesday · 21 min· Video
Empire of Lights: Power, Permits & Playbooks for Data Center Development in Pennsylvania
Data centers are coming to Pennsylvania — but getting them built is a whole different story. In this episode of The Empire Lights, powered by Comcast Business and Babst Calland, host Jonathan Kersting of the Pittsburgh Technology Council sits down with Kate Cooper, shareholder at Babst Calland, to unpack the rapidly evolving landscape of data center development across the state. From the Governor's GRID Standards and behind-the-meter power generation to the complex permitting maze at the DEP and municipal level, Kate breaks down what's really happening on the ground. The conversation dives into how tech-world uptime expectations — like "four nines" availability — are colliding with old-school land development, creating a high-stakes negotiation environment where no playbook exists yet. They also explore Pennsylvania's competitive advantages: brownfield sites, natural gas infrastructure, and a deep bench of environmental and land-use legal expertise that's putting the Pittsburgh region at the center of the data center boom. If you want to understand what it actually takes to bring a data center from announcement to groundbreaking — and why Pennsylvania's approach might be smarter than you think — this episode is a must-listen. The Pittsburgh Technology Council produce TechVibe and the Empire of Lights to explore Pittsburgh's technology and innovation ecosystem.
October 2 · 18 min· Video
RIDC's Don Smith: Building Pittsburgh's Tech & Manufacturing Future
What do a shared-use SCIF, autonomous driving test track and one of Pittsburgh's top advanced manufacturers have in common? They are all currently under the wing of the Regional Industrial Development Corporation (RIDC). Jonathan Kersting sits down with Don Smith of the RIDC for a wide-ranging update on the projects reshaping Pittsburgh's tech and manufacturing landscape. At Mill 19 on Hazelwood Green, RIDC is building a $10 million shared-use SCIF — a hyper-secure facility where companies can engage with classified government projects from the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, and beyond. Partnering with Parallax on an accelerated build-out, the SCIF gives Pittsburgh startups a home-field advantage for defense procurement — no more driving to the Pentagon. Meanwhile, Hellbender is bringing manufacturing back inside the city limits with plans to scale to 500 jobs — potentially the largest manufacturing deal in the City of Pittsburgh in decades. Don and Jonathan also cover: The evolution of Lawrenceville from NREC's early robotics hub to today's thriving ecosystem Neighborhood 91 at the airport, where a 108,000 sq ft spec building is under construction ReBuild Manufacturing's rapid ramp-up at the former Alcoa site in New Kensington The PennSTART dual-use test track — a two-mile facility for autonomous vehicle testing and first-responder training, opening in 2027 RIDC's 70-year history of transforming stranded industrial sites into modern innovation spaces Why Pittsburgh's robotics, AI, and defense ecosystem is attracting companies from around the world The Pittsburgh Technology Council produces TechVibe to explore Pittsburgh's technology and innovation economy.
September 30 · 18 min
The Power of Partnership: How RedChair Pittsburgh Helps Women Move Forward in Tech
What can happen when one person gives you the encouragement to take the next step? For Geeta Tahiliani, a simple connection to RedChair Pittsburgh helped change the trajectory of her career and eventually inspired her to help other women find their own path forward. TechVibe Radio sits down with Kelly Fetick, Geeta Tahiliani and Sunnie Fenk for a conversation about the power of mentorship, community and creating opportunities for women in technology. Geeta shares her journey from discovering RedChair almost by accident to earning scholarships that connected her with executive coaching, new perspectives and a stronger sense of where she wanted to take her career. Along the way, Sunnie became one of the people encouraging her to apply, get involved and keep pushing forward. The conversation also previews RedChair Pittsburgh's annual event on October 20 at Robert Morris University, built this year around the theme "The Power of Partnership." The event will explore how mentors, allies and professional relationships can shape careers and lives. Tune in to hear how: Mentorship can unlock opportunities you may not see for yourself. RedChair scholarships are helping women navigate critical mid-career transitions. Professional communities can combat isolation and create real, lasting connections. One act of encouragement can ripple outward as the person being helped becomes a mentor to someone else. It's a conversation about careers, confidence, community and what becomes possible when someone believes you should take the next step. The Pittsburgh Technology Council produces TechVibe to explore Pittsburgh's technology and innovation ecosystem.
September 29 · 10 min
Pittsburgh Builds Tomorrow: Pittsburgh Is Getting a Quantum Computer. Here's Why It Matters!
Pittsburgh is getting a quantum computer. But what exactly does that mean, how does quantum computing work, and why is Pittsburgh one of the places helping push this strange and potentially transformative technology forward? In the debut episode of Pittsburgh Builds Tomorrow, TechVibe's Jonathan Kersting takes a decidedly non-physicist trip into the world of qubits, quantum entanglement, superposition and computers that operate at temperatures colder than outer space. Along the way, University of Pittsburgh Senior Vice Chancellor for Research Rob Rutenbar helps explain why quantum computing is moving from science fiction to engineering, with potential applications ranging from cybersecurity and financial services to drug discovery, advanced materials and medicine. And there's a distinctly Pittsburgh story behind it all. The Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center has spent four decades pushing the boundaries of high-performance computing. Now the region is taking another big swing as it prepares to bring quantum computing into that ecosystem. Come for the qubits. Stay for Einstein's "spooky action at a distance," the million-dollar refrigerator and a computer that looks like it belongs in Versailles. Pittsburgh Builds Tomorrow explores the people, technologies and big ideas shaping what comes next for Pittsburgh. Listen to Rob's entire interview here.
September 28 · 26 min
Building the Pittsburgh-to-Morgantown Tech Corridor
What if Pittsburgh and West Virginia stopped thinking like neighboring regions and started acting like one connected technology corridor? TechVibe Radio goes back to West Virginia with Melissa McKenna of Trilogy Innovations and Bill Walker of West Virginia University for a wide-ranging conversation about the innovation, research and economic opportunities taking shape from Pittsburgh to Morgantown, Bridgeport and beyond. The discussion uncovers some remarkable work already underway, including WVU research that can extract critical minerals and rare earth elements from acid mine drainage while helping clean up legacy environmental damage. McKenna and Walker also detail new life being brought to former pharmaceutical infrastructure in Morgantown, growing opportunities in health care and energy, and the $321 million NSF-backed regional initiative connecting WVU, Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh and partners across a 78-county region. At the center of the conversation is one big idea: the Pennsylvania-West Virginia state line may be a political boundary, but it does not have to be an innovation boundary. Hear how closer connections in research, commercialization, workforce, cybersecurity, energy and investment could create a stronger technology corridor along I-79, and why the Mountain State Cyber Summit and Tech Yeah on October 28 in Morgantown could be an important place to start building those relationships face-to-face. If you think you know West Virginia tech, this conversation may change your map. The Pittsburgh Technology Council produces TechVibe to explore Pittsburgh's technology innovaton ecosystem.
September 27 · 22 min
How Titan Robotics' Autonomous Systems Handle the Dull, Dirty and Dangerous Work
Stuart Lawrence, founder and CEO of Titan Robotics, joins Jonathan Kersting and Audrey Russo from the Huntington Bank Studios to share the remarkable story behind his Pittsburgh-based robotics company. What started as a Carnegie Mellon / Air Force Research Lab project to strip paint off fighter jets with high-powered lasers became a 14-year journey of grit, pivots, and breakthroughs. Stuart walks us through: The origin story: How a torpedo defense engineer turned robotics builder landed at Carnegie Mellon's NREC, got hooked by 25-ton robots with 40-foot reach and lasers, and spun out Titan Robotics The near-death moment: When a three-star general blocked $75 million in contract awards, forcing a years-long pivot from government-only work to commercial manufacturing Solving "dull, dirty, and dangerous": How Titan's autonomous systems tackle weld removal, grinding, and sanding of composites without requiring a programmer to operate them The labor gap advantage: Why the welding skills shortage is Titan's biggest commercial opportunity, and how adaptive robotics empower operators instead of replacing them 14 years, zero fundraising: How Stuart bootstrapped Titan to ~70 employees on government contracts alone, and why now is finally the time to consider outside capital Leadership lessons: Why "don't lie to yourself" is his #1 piece of advice, and how instrumenting ROI data guided every technology decision From vaporizing carcinogenic coatings down to 10 pounds of safe material (versus 2,000 pounds of hazardous waste from traditional methods) to giving factory workers a robot that works like a hammer—intuitive and in their control—Titan Robotics is quietly building the future of autonomous industrial robotics in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Learn more at titanrobots.com
September 20 · 22 min
Inside Pittsburgh's New Quantum Computer
Quantum computing has spent years being described as the technology that's always 10 years away. In Pittsburgh, that future is getting a lot closer. University of Pittsburgh Senior Vice Chancellor for Research Rob Rutenbar joins Pittsburgh Technology Council President and CEO Audrey Russo to unpack the quantum computer headed to the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center through funding from the National Science Foundation. And don't worry if you can't tell a qubit from a Q-tip. Rutenbar starts with the basics, explaining how quantum computers work, why qubits can exist as both zeros and ones, what Einstein meant by "spooky action at a distance," and why Pittsburgh's new Rigetti system has to operate at temperatures colder than outer space. The PSC's nine-qubit system is considered a starter quantum computer, but its arrival gives Pittsburgh researchers something enormously important: hands-on access to an emerging computing technology that could ultimately tackle problems conventional computers struggle to solve. Hit play to discover why Pittsburgh is building serious momentum in quantum computing, how quantum could transform cryptography, drug discovery, materials science and optimization, and why pairing a quantum computer with PSC's world-class supercomputing infrastructure creates one very powerful combination. Quantum isn't just coming. It's coming to Pittsburgh.
September 17 · 27 min
Health Care Reinvented: Can Technology and AI Make Health Care More Human?
What if your health plan could spot that you need help before a missed appointment, medication gap or health issue turns into something much bigger? On this episode of Health Care Reinvented, hosts Jonathan Kersting and Audrey Russo talk with Judy Arrow, VP of Health Engagement at Highmark, and Matt Putilla, VP of Product Development at enGen, about how Highmark is combining technology, data and human expertise to make navigating health care easier and more personal. The goal sounds simple: meet members where they are, identify signals earlier and remove the friction that can make getting care frustrating. Behind the scenes, however, that requires connecting information that once lived in separate systems and giving care teams a more complete picture of each member. Arrow and Putilla explain how AI is being woven directly into those workflows. It can prepare clinicians before a member call, listen during conversations, provide prompts and summarize interactions afterward. Instead of replacing the human connection, the technology is designed to give clinicians more time to concentrate on it. The conversation also explores Highmark's move from reactive care management toward earlier intervention, guided handoffs between nurses, pharmacists, behavioral health specialists and social workers, and the growing ability to use near-real-time data to determine when a member may need help now rather than next week. It's a look behind the curtain at how health care technology, AI and human expertise can work together to create a more connected experience and potentially keep small problems from becoming big ones.
September 14 · 20 min
Metal With a Mission: Ellwood Group's Anna Barensfeld on Space, Steel, and Workforce in Western PA
What if the steel in your next flight's landing gear, the components in NASA's Artemis rocket, and even the "chopsticks" catching SpaceX rockets were all forged by a family-owned company in Western Pennsylvania? In this episode of AMP'd Pittsburgh, host Jonathan Kersting sits down with Anna Barensfeld, fifth-generation leader of Ellwood — a 115-year-old specialty metals and forgings company headquartered in Ellwood City, PA. Founded in 1910 by Anna's great-great-grandfather, Ellwood has evolved from a small forge shop making crankshafts into a multi-faceted powerhouse producing high-performance alloys, aluminum, and engineered components for aerospace, defense, energy, and beyond. Anna shares the bold bets that shaped the company's trajectory — from her father's decision to build their own steel melt shop in 1985 during the Rust Belt decline, to today's massive investment in a vacuum induction melting furnace that will produce some of the cleanest, most advanced metals on Earth. The conversation goes deep on: Ellwood's philosophy of "Metal with a Mission" — how their products power everyday life, from aircraft landing gear to the power grid The critical role family ownership plays in long-term, risk-taking innovation Ellwood's involvement in cutting-edge projects for SpaceX, including the rocket-catching chopsticks A passionate discussion on workforce development and the Lawrence Mercer Manufacturers Coalition — Anna's initiative to re-energize manufacturing careers in Western Pennsylvania Why manufacturing is thriving, not dying, and the urgent need to inspire the next generation of skilled workers • The advanced technology behind modern steelmaking — robotics, automation, CNC programming, and precision welding Whether you're in manufacturing, economic development, or simply curious about how the materials behind modern civilization get made, this episode will change how you think about American industry. Produced at the Huntington Bank Studios as part of the AMP'd Pittsburgh series by the Pittsburgh Technology Council. Listen now and discover why the future of American manufacturing is being forged right here in Western Pennsylvania.
September 14 · 22 min
The State Line Is Not an Innovation Line, Why Pittsburgh and Morgantown Are Better Together
What happens when two major West Virginia technology conferences join forces and invite Pittsburgh to the party? TechVibe Radio talks with Melissa McKenna of Trilogy Innovations and Bill Walker of West Virginia University about the October 28 Mountain State Cyber Summit and Tech Yeah conference in Morgantown, an event expected to bring together hundreds of leaders from industry, academia and government. And this isn't just another cybersecurity gathering. The conference stretches across four major areas including secure and intelligent systems, national security and mission innovation, autonomy and advanced manufacturing, and health and cyber biosecurity. Expect conversations touching AI, aerospace, robotics, healthcare, food security, federal missions and the emerging threats surrounding increasingly connected infrastructure. Walker, a former Chief of Staff at U.S. Cyber Command, explains how WVU has built deep relationships with federal agencies and industry partners to tackle real national security challenges. McKenna details how combining Mountain State Cyber Summit and Tech Yeah! creates new opportunities for companies, entrepreneurs, researchers and students to connect, collaborate and build. But perhaps the biggest takeaway is geographic. Pittsburgh and Morgantown are only about 75 miles apart, with complementary strengths across AI, robotics, energy, manufacturing, cybersecurity, research and federal contracting. As Walker puts it, "The state line's a political boundary. It's not an innovation boundary." Hit play to discover why Pittsburgh companies should be looking south, why West Virginia organizations should be looking north and how one connected technology corridor could create new companies, contracts, investment and jobs across the region. The Pittsburgh Technology Council produces TechVibe to explore Pittsburgh's technology and innovation ecosystem.
September 13 · 22 min
Pittsburgh's Neya Systems Puts Autonomous Mining Vehicles in High Gear
Can a Pittsburgh robotics company really make massive mining trucks drive themselves — with no human behind the wheel? In this episode of Tech Vibe, Jonathan Kersting sits down with John Porter, Senior Robotics Engineer at Neya, to unpack how this Pittsburgh-based off-road autonomy company is transforming one of the world's most rugged and dangerous industries: industrial mining. From ultra-class haul trucks with 15-foot-tall tires running fully autonomous load-haul-dump cycles at a production iron ore mine in Western Australia, to building the perception systems and fleet management software that make it all possible — this is a deep dive into the engineering, the grit, and the real-world impact of autonomous mining. And yes, it's all being built right here in Pittsburgh. There are so many reasons to listen: Get an inside look at the perception systems, sensors, and path-planning algorithms that let building-sized vehicles navigate mine sites with zero human input Hear the on-the-ground story of deploying autonomous trucks in Western Australia — one of the toughest mining environments on Earth Learn how Neya's Mission Planning and Management System (MPMS) coordinates fleets of both autonomous and manned vehicles on the same site Discover why safety is the driving force behind removing humans from the cab and into remote command centers Find out what's next — from automating shovels and dozers to building fully autonomous mine ecosystems Whether you're into robotics, autonomy, industrial innovation, or just love a great Pittsburgh success story, this conversation will change how you think about the future of mining. The Pittsburgh Technology Council produces TechVibe to explore Pittsburgh's technology and innovation ecosystem.
September 6 · 22 min
15 Years of Assemble: Building Pittsburgh's Next Generation of Makers, Creators & Technologists
Nina Marie Barbuto, founder of Assemble in Pittsburgh's Garfield neighborhood, joins TechVibe this Sunday to celebrate 15 years of building community through arts, technology, and hands-on maker education. What started with a backpack and a bicycle has grown into an organization that has impacted over 107,000 people — including more than 30,000 youth — through STEM and STEAM programs rooted in culturally relevant, project-based learning. Nina shares the story of Assemble's evolution from an all-volunteer effort to a generational force in Pittsburgh's tech ecosystem, the ripple effects of empowering kids to build, create, and dream, and details for the upcoming Unicornapalooza celebration on September 19th — featuring carnival games, flash unicorn tattoos, the first-ever Unicorny Awards honoring community champions, and costumes strongly encouraged. Featuring honorees Gregg Behr of the Grable Foundation, Representative La' Tasha Mayes for her work passing the CROWN Act in Pennsylvania, community maker Miss Junyetta Seale, and Assemble's own Jess Gold. Learn more and get tickets at assemblepgh.org.
August 31 · 33 min
Empire of Lights: Powering and Cooling the AI Factory
How Do You Power and Cool an AI Data Center? The processors inside modern data centers are becoming more powerful, more dense and a whole lot hotter. Keeping them running requires an entirely new generation of power and cooling infrastructure. Chris Massetti of Donwil joins Empire of Lights to explain what happens between the electrical grid and the silicon, and why Donwil's mission-critical expertise has suddenly landed the company in the middle of one of the fastest-growing industries in the world. Hit play to learn how closed-loop liquid cooling can dramatically reduce water consumption, how modern systems move heat directly away from powerful GPUs, and why Donwil's power modules help smooth the wildly fluctuating electrical loads created by AI computing. Massetti also explores the rapid move toward prefabricated and modular infrastructure, the growing demand for skilled technicians and why having compute located closer to Pittsburgh could become increasingly important for healthcare, research and other AI-intensive industries. It's a surprisingly accessible trip inside the powertrain and cooling system of the modern AI factory. The Pittsburgh Technology Council produces TechVibe to explore Pittsburgh's technology and innovation ecosystem.
August 31 · 29 min
AI Beyond Chatbots: EY on Agents, ERP Transformation, and the Skills That Matter
Is AI more than just chatbots — and are you leaving serious business value on the table by thinking it isn't? Jonathan Kersting hosts TechVibe from the Pittsburgh Technology Council, sitting down with EY's Natalie Freedline and Aaron Rakes for a high-energy conversation about the real-world AI revolution happening right now in business. Why you should hit play: • The human side of AI — Why your people aren't being replaced, they're being redeployed, and the new skills every professional needs to stay relevant (hint: it's not coding, it's interrogation). • AI beyond the chat box — Discover the "seven layers of the cake" and why chat is just one of them. Autonomous agents are already traversing ERPs, CRMs, and email systems — and they don't take coffee breaks. • The security wake-up call — Non-human identities, silent segregation of duties, and why governance isn't optional when your agents have access to everything. • Pittsburgh's AI moment — From $100 million in startup investments to local powerhouses like GreenCabbage and Gather AI, the Steel City is quietly becoming an AI stronghold. • The "just start" philosophy — Why waiting for perfect data, perfect documentation, or the perfect tech stack is the most expensive mistake you can make right now. Whether you're an AI skeptic, a business leader trying to see real ROI, or just curious about where this technology is heading, this conversation will change how you think about what's possible. TechVibe is your front-row seat to all things innovation and tech across the Pittsburgh region. Press play and get ahead of the curve.
August 30 · 34 min
Empire of Lights: The Concrete Behind the Cloud
What Does Precast Concrete Have to Do With the Data Center Boom? Turns out, quite a lot. Marshall Sorensen of Metromont joins Empire of Lights to take us deep into one of the most overlooked parts of the data center supply chain: the concrete structures that have to be designed, manufactured and assembled before a single server can go online. Hit play to learn how precast construction can dramatically accelerate data center projects, why eliminating a single structural column can create enormous economic value, and how Metromont's test-fit process helps developers find expensive problems before construction begins. Sorensen also explains why early collaboration, site logistics and offsite manufacturing are becoming increasingly important as data center customers demand bigger campuses on tighter schedules. If you've ever wondered what physically holds up the cloud, this episode gets wonderfully concrete. The Pittsburgh Technology Council produces TechVibe to explore Pittsburgh's technology and innovation ecosystem.
August 30 · 22 min
SoftLedger Founder Ben Taylor on Building Fintech in Pittsburgh
What happens when an accountant gets frustrated enough with clunky software to build something better? You get SoftLedger. This week on TechVibe, we sit down with co-founder Ben Taylor to talk about how a problem he experienced firsthand turned into a growing fintech company. Ben and his co-founder started by sketching out ideas on printer paper. Then came the hard part: thousands of cold emails, plenty of rejection and the long process of winning that first customer. From there, SoftLedger steadily grew into a platform serving companies that have outgrown QuickBooks but don't want the cost and complexity of a giant ERP system. Today, SoftLedger is growing its team in Pittsburgh, expanding downtown and putting AI to work across accounting, reporting and software development. Ben also talks about why Pittsburgh has become such a strong home base for the company. It's a fun conversation about spotting a real problem, sticking with the solution and building something people actually need. Hit play and meet one of Pittsburgh's growing fintech companies on this week's TechVibe. TechVibe is produced by the Pittsburgh Technology Council to showcase Pittsburgh's technology and innovation ecosystem.
August 29 · 25 min
PaceSetters: How Woolpert Uses GIS + AI to Build Digital Twins, Indoor Maps & Smarter Utilities
In this PaceSetters episode from the Pittsburgh Technology Council and TechVibe, host Jonathan Kersting talks with Jodie Gosselin of Woolpert, a geospatial-focused architecture and engineering firm founded in 1911, about Woolpert's growth in Pittsburgh following the Dawood Engineering acquisition and its global GIS organization. Gosselin explains what GIS (geographic information systems) is, how it adds geographic context to data, and how it's applied to real-world problems like indoor wayfinding for airports and network modeling for utilities, including scenario planning and customer impact analysis. She describes how AI is being used to clean and compare data, support system integrations, and enable readiness for digital twins, and highlights a GIS + AI hackathon with Esri. Gosselin also shares her career path into geography and her efforts to teach GIS to kids, including GIS Day classroom lessons and education initiatives. The Pittsburgh Technology Council produces TechVibe to explore Pittsburgh's technology and innovation ecosystem.
August 29 · 21 min
Empire of Lights: Building Data Centers With the Community, Not Around It
Can Data Centers Earn the Trust of the Communities Where They're Built? Data centers are bringing billions of dollars in investment to Pennsylvania, but what does responsible development actually look like? On this episode of Empire of Lights, Brian Regli of Dynamo takes us inside the company's planned data center development in Springdale and explains why transparency, community engagement and accountability have to be part of the process from day one. Hit play to hear how Dynamo is approaching concerns around power, water and noise, why Regli believes developers must acknowledge the problems they help create, and how closed-loop cooling, third-party verification and local hiring can help establish a better model for development. He also explains why the industry needs to stop simply telling communities that data centers are good for them and start listening to what those communities actually need. It's a candid conversation about building the infrastructure of the digital economy while building trust at the same time. The Pittsburgh Technology Council produces TechVibe to explore Pittsburgh's technology and innovation ecosystem.
August 28 · 20 min
PaceSetters: How VSP Vision Uses AI, RPA & Eyefinity to Improve Eye Care Access and Patient Experience
In this TechVibe PaceSetters episode from Huntington Bank Studios, Jonathan Kersting talks with VSP Vision leaders Emily Traupman and Kathleen (Kat) Lovett about how VSP—one of the nation's largest eye healthcare providers serving 80+ million members with 42,000+ private practice doctors and 700+ retail locations—uses technology to expand access to care and improve efficiency. Traupman shares how VSP applies UiPath robotic process automation and generative AI to automate repetitive work, testing, and test-script/data creation, and explores AI agents to further reduce manual effort. Lovett highlights Eyefinity practice management software, insurance/pre-authorization workflows, and AI Scribe to capture clinical notes so doctors can focus on patients, along with AI tools to help sales reps and AI-driven frame assortment, virtual try-on, and inventory optimization, including collaboration with Carnegie Mellon. They also discuss retinal imaging for broader health insights and VSP's mobile clinic providing free eye exams and glasses in Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh Technology Council produces TechVibe to explore the region's technology and innovation ecosystem.
August 28 · 37 min
Empire of Lights: Turning Stranded Infrastructure Into Digital Opportunity
Could Pennsylvania's Industrial Past Become Its Data Center Advantage? Across Western Pennsylvania, former power plants, steel mills and industrial sites still contain valuable infrastructure that was built decades ago. Kenneth Birkenstock of Nittany Digital Infrastructure believes those assets could play an important role in the region's digital future. On this episode of Empire of Lights, Birkenstock explains the concept of stranded infrastructure and why reusing existing industrial sites can make more sense than developing farmland or previously untouched property. Hit play to hear why NDI starts with community conversations before development begins, why Birkenstock says transparency is an obligation for developers, and why expectations around noise, water, power and infrastructure should be clearly defined and put in writing. He also explores how data center investment could become the first domino in broader community revitalization, creating opportunities for skilled trades, manufacturing and additional development. It's a fascinating look at how old infrastructure could find an entirely new purpose. The Pittsburgh Technology Council produces TechVibe to explore Pittsburgh's technology and innovation ecosystem.

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