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The next great American industrial revolution is not being shaped in think tanks; it is being built in real time. In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, once a powerhouse of steel and smoke, the US has launched a future rooted in artificial intelligence, energy innovation and industrial revival. What unfolded at the Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit last week was not just a domestic policy pivot. It was a global declaration.

With more than $90 billion in private sector commitments, this initiative, spearheaded by the President Donald Trump-aligned state administration and welcomed by leaders on both sides of the aisle, sends a clear message to the world: the US intends to lead the AI era with power, precision and pragmatism.

That message matters far beyond American borders. For leaders across the Middle East, this moment is worth watching, not just because of its scale but because of what it signals: the future of AI will be forged by the nations that control the energy, infrastructure and values that guide its use.

AI is not an abstract Western luxury. It will soon define everything from national security and energy management to education, agriculture and healthcare. AI is already reshaping global trade, defense and diplomacy. In the Middle East, governments are investing heavily in smart cities, surveillance systems, digital health and fintech, all of which are powered by AI.

But AI is not magic; it demands enormous amounts of energy to train, deploy and sustain. The summit in Pennsylvania highlighted this reality with refreshing honesty. Rather than chasing slogans or downplaying the environmental and industrial demands of AI, American leaders there did something rare: they confronted the energy challenge head-on.

Their answer? Build data centers adjacent to power plants, particularly those utilizing natural gas and nuclear energy. This strategy, known as co-location, dramatically improves efficiency and allows for rapid expansion. It offers a potential model for energy-rich nations worldwide to consider as they scale up their own AI ambitions.

Many global commentators will ask: is this American model just a return to fossil fuels? Is it an environmental rollback? The answer is not that simple. Washington is not abandoning its climate goals. However, it acknowledges a simple truth: wind and solar are essential, but they cannot yet deliver the reliable, large-scale power that AI systems need. For now, only natural gas and nuclear energy can provide that kind of steady and scalable supply. This is not about giving up on renewables; it is a practical step. A way to keep innovation moving forward while the clean energy future catches up.

For Middle Eastern countries, especially those investing in AI through sovereign wealth funds and national tech strategies, this approach resonates. Gulf states like ÂÜÀòÊÓƵ and the UAE are threading this same needle: investing in renewables while recognizing the transitional role of hydrocarbons and nuclear energy. What the US is doing in Pennsylvania may not just inspire them but also offer a playbook.

At its core, the summit’s announcements promise more than megawatts and microchips. They offer a blueprint for economic dignity. America’s heartland, often overlooked by globalization, is being revitalized through high-skilled, future-focused jobs in energy, cybersecurity, engineering and data science.

This is a model the world can learn from. Instead of viewing AI as a threat to traditional labor, the US is building an industrial policy that connects digital growth to human opportunity. The lesson is clear: if AI is built in a vacuum, it will deepen inequality. If it is built alongside energy, training and infrastructure, it can be a ladder.

A new partnership model could emerge, in which US AI expertise is combined with Middle Eastern energy foresight. 

Dalia Al-Aqidi

For Middle Eastern countries investing in youth-driven economies, that distinction is crucial. The AI revolution must be both technological and human.

There is a bigger reason the summit matters: it proves that who builds AI, and the values behind it, matter.

By leading with clean energy and private sector strength, America is doing more than securing its own future — it is offering a better option for others. The global market now has a choice: work with a democratic AI system built on trust and cooperation or risk getting locked into one built for control, not collaboration.

Washington is not looking to go it alone. At the summit, Trump and others emphasized the importance of international cooperation, especially with energy producers and tech innovators abroad.

That is where the Middle East comes in. The region is home to some of the world’s most ambitious AI visions, from ÂÜÀòÊÓƵ’s NEOM to the UAE’s national AI strategy. It is also home to some of the world’s most valuable energy assets. A new partnership model could emerge, in which American AI expertise is combined with Middle Eastern energy foresight, leading to shared leadership in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This is not science fiction. It is strategic alignment.

Of course, no policy is perfect. Environmental concerns must be addressed and the digital divide must be bridged, not just within nations but between them. However, what is clear is that a vacuum of leadership is no longer an option. The world needs bold ideas and, more importantly, the courage to act on them.

What happened in Pennsylvania is not a solution for every country. But it is a signal to all: the AI energy era has arrived and the stakes are global.

What happens in places like Pittsburgh will shape how AI develops, how energy is used and how the world moves forward. This is not a threat, it is an opportunity for several nations to work together on a smarter, safer and more connected future.

As we enter a new industrial age, the real questions are: who will lead it and what values will shape the path ahead?

• Dalia Al-Aqidi is executive director at the American Center for Counter Extremism.