Is SC Ready for the AI Economy?
Technology is no longer simply one sector of South Carolina’s economy. It is increasingly woven into nearly every industry in the state, from advanced manufacturing and logistics to healthcare, education and small business.
And increasingly, that conversation begins with artificial intelligence.
South Carolina’s technology sector already generates an estimated $51 billion in economic impact, according to the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness’ 2024 economic impact study. The study also counted roughly 143,000 technology workers in the state, numbers that could be considerably larger the next time the sector is measured.
In Episode 80 of Let’s Talk Business South Carolina, Jamie DeMent, director of technology and cybersecurity initiatives at the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness, discusses where the state’s technology economy is headed, and why becoming more “AI forward” will be critical to staying competitive.
AI Is Moving Fast. Business Has to Move With It.
For business leaders, the challenge isn’t simply deciding whether to use AI. It’s determining where it makes sense, establishing policies around its use and making sure employees understand both its capabilities and its risks.
DeMent says businesses should approach AI from the top down, with leadership buy-in and clear policies rather than simply allowing employees to experiment independently with different platforms. Organizations also need to be willing to adjust as the technology evolves.
Her larger message is that South Carolina shouldn’t be continually trying to catch up with emerging technologies.
Through initiatives such as the Palmetto AI Corridor and AI educational programs, the goal is to help everyone from CEOs to small-business owners become more comfortable using the technology and begin thinking “AI forward.”
What Happens to the Jobs?
AI also raises one of the biggest questions facing the workforce: Will AI take my job?
DeMent acknowledges that some jobs will disappear or change significantly. But she argues that the more important question for workers is whether they are learning to use AI and adapting their skills as technology changes.
That issue is particularly important for South Carolina, which already faces a technology talent challenge. The state is producing engineers and coders, but a shortage of entry-level opportunities can cause young technology workers to leave — creating what DeMent describes as a potential “brain drain.”
Technology in South Carolina’s Own Backyard
South Carolina’s manufacturing economy also creates a major opportunity.
Manufacturers are increasingly using AI and Industry 4.0 technologies for predictive analytics, machine vision, smart factories, warehouse optimization and supply-chain improvements. And DeMent says companies may not realize how many technology providers capable of delivering those solutions are already operating within South Carolina.
Rather than automatically looking to Atlanta, Charlotte, New York or California for technology expertise, businesses may be able to find innovative AI companies much closer to home.
What’s Next?
Asked to identify one technology trend every business leader should have on the radar, DeMent points beyond today’s AI boom to quantum computing, particularly because of the growing speed and data requirements associated with AI.
And for the next generation entering an AI-driven workplace, she identifies another priority: understanding the ethical use of artificial intelligence.
The technology is going to continue moving quickly. The question for South Carolina businesses, and the state as a whole, is whether they can move with it.
