While the headlines focus on the big data center investments coming to Louisiana, LSU economist Deke Terrell says that’s only part of the story. The bigger question is how artificial intelligence will reshape the state’s businesses, workforce, and communities.
Terrell, director of the Center for Economics, Business and Policy Research in LSU’s EJ Ourso College of Business, offered his perspective on how Louisiana can take advantage of AI opportunities while addressing its challenges. July episode of Strictly Business
Terrell launched the GoAI Economic Research Series to explore the long-term impact of AI on Louisiana. The first report will introduce the state’s emerging AI ecosystem, and future reports will explore the economic tradeoffs of major AI investments and their impact on Louisiana’s workforce.
“Louisiana has some advantages that most states don’t have,” Terrell said.
That ecosystem includes energy, manufacturing, ports, universities, construction, and federal facilities such as NASA’s Michaud Assembly Facility.
Higher education is also adapting. LSU recently awarded the state’s first bachelor’s degree in artificial intelligence, and universities across Louisiana are expanding their AI education and research. Terrell argued that traditional education remains essential, and said that future workers will need critical thinking skills to evaluate AI-generated jobs and ask the right questions, rather than simply relying on technology.
Despite attracting large-scale AI investments, Louisiana ranks 44th in the nation in AI adoption. Terrell sees the ranking as a baseline, not a ceiling, noting that states that start later often see faster adoption. For business leaders, his advice is practical. Conduct an internal audit to understand how your workforce is already using AI and identify opportunities to improve productivity while protecting sensitive information.
Rather than simply replacing jobs, Terrell said AI is likely to reshape jobs through a combination of integration, human-AI collaboration, new career opportunities, and the replacement of parts of daily tasks. Louisiana’s strength in skilled trades and industrial construction could also be an early advantage, as many physical jobs remain difficult to automate.
Ultimately, Terrell believes Louisiana should judge AI success by more than investment dollars and announced projects.
“I would love to see community and business leaders start having serious conversations about what kind of future they want,” Terrell said.
That means weighing economic growth against Louisiana’s culture, natural resources and quality of life. As AI transforms the economy, Terrell hopes that business and community leaders will begin to intentionally shape the future, determining not only how they use AI, but also where human judgment, interaction, and control should be centered.
