AI, climate-change tech top Mass. governor’s draft economic plan

Addressing housing and transportation challenges, using artificial intelligence and investing in climate technology are all priorities in a draft economic development package filed this week by Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey’s administration.

The long-term economic development plan, Team MA Leading Future Generations, aims to guide the state’s economic development work over the next four years.

“Massachusetts can be the best place in the nation for individuals to pursue rewarding careers and for companies to start, scale, and succeed,” Healey wrote in a letter to state House and Senate clerks. “Achieving this vision will ensure that we lead for future generations and deliver the results our communities deserve.”

The 66-page plan also outlines efforts to address some of the state’s more basic economic challenges, including increasing the production of housing and improving transportation infrastructure — including making repairs and updating metropolitan Boston’s subway, commuter rail and bus public transportation systems.

The proposal calls for the creation of an AI task force to help speed the tech’s adoption to grow education, financial services and life sciences in the state. If adopted, Massachusetts would join a host of states across the country that have established similar AI task forces.

The Healey administration is also working to pull together academic and industry leaders to help secure funding for the state’s burgeoning robotics cluster, according to the plan. The greater Boston area has the fourth-most higher education institutions of any U.S. city, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a leading robotics research institution. 

The plan also outlines strategies for Massachusetts to become a leader in addressing the advancing threats of climate change. The plan proposes creating “the world’s leading climatetech ecosystem” through academic and job recruitment.

“Massachusetts is the best place in the world to live, raise a family, and grow a business,” Healey said in a statement. “It’s our administration’s job to keep it that way by leveraging what’s working and fixing what’s not.”

The economic development outline doesn’t state how much each priority will cost, but says that the plan will act as a guide when the administration considers spending bills next year.