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I've long said that AI’s future won’t be shaped by just code, but by the infrastructure behind it. Power lines. Cooling systems. Data centers. Physical infrastructure.

And the cities that get this trifecta right (power, people, and purpose) will dominate.

Chicago checks all three.

Let’s break down what Chicago’s “AI play” looks like across our economy, talent, and adoption on the ground.

AI isn’t just some floating intelligence in the cloud. It’s a power-hungry beast. Training GPT-4 used about as much energy as it takes to power 5,000 homes for a year.

AI starts with physical stuff: power, connectivity, compute, and space.

Chicago has what AI needs to run:

Chicago doesn’t scream AI, but maybe we should. We’re a top STEM city, churning out researchers and engineers who don’t just post threads, they ship:

The point? Chicago doesn’t need to “catch up.” It’s already building.

One out of every three jobs here is exposed to generative AI.

Chicago isn’t a monoculture. It’s not all SaaS or search engines. It’s healthcare, logistics, finance, insurance, manufacturing. If AI’s going to reshape the real economy, it needs a place to plug in.

That’s Chicago: home to the third-highest number of Fortune 500 HQs in the country. 26% of local companies are already data-ready, and 22% are cloud-ready.

Translation? Once leadership gives the green light, AI isn’t stuck in pilot mode, it will move to full-scale production, fast.

Chicago is a city of builders and implementers. This is where AI gets out of the lab and into the warehouse. Into the ER. Into the budget spreadsheet.

Infrastructure. Talent. Industry.

It’s not a buzzword. It’s an actual playbook.

Chicago isn’t just betting on AI. We’re executing it.

Silicon Valley Bank, a division of First Citizens Bank, is the bank of innovative companies and investors.

With 40+ years of dedication to our sector, SVB has deep experience banking investors and innovation clients.

Their entire business, from solutions and technology to credit policy and beyond, is purpose-built for high-growth companies and investors and delivered at the speed they need.

If you're interested in learning more about SVB - Book a Meeting with Chicago’s own Nick Jones today

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