U.S. congressional staffers gathered at Georgia Tech’s CODA Building for a deep dive into the U.S. National Science Foundation’s AI4OPT. Staffers working with Senator Raphael Warnock, Representative Andrew Clyde, Representative Barry Loudermilk, Representative Buddy Carter, Representative Brian Jack, and Representative Rich McCormick gained perspective on how the institute is pursuing transformative solutions in energy systems, supply chains, manufacturing, precision agriculture and healthcare.

U.S. Congressional Staffers Explore AI4OPT’s Impact at Georgia Tech

Kevin Dalmeijer, AI4OPT’s managing director, opened the session with an overview of a few of the institute’s main thrusts, including AI for energy, health, and supply chains. He described how AI4OPT’s flagship strategies are speeding up optimization tasks by orders of magnitude across these domains. Dalmeijer also underscored the institute’s commitment to comprehensive workforce development, from K–12 outreach to faculty training programs that bridge AI education gaps.

Tech AI Demonstrates Real-World AI Applications

Austin Weeks, a research engineer with Tech AI closed the presentation with a demo visualizing train movement patterns across the U.S. Weeks’ visualization turned abstract research into tangible, transportable impact, illustrating how AI can enhance infrastructure decision making.

Connecting Policymakers with Researchers and Students

After the presentations, staffers mingled with AI4OPT PhD students, researchers and staff , giving them an informal chance to explore the technical depth of ongoing projects and AI4OPT’s impact. Attendees engaged in exploratory questions and conversations, gaining insight into the institute’s broader programs. The visit offered congressional staffers a window into how AI-driven research at Georgia Tech is shaping national strategy on everything from energy resilience to supply chain optimization.