Pittsburgh is gearing up for its largest robotics and AI showcase yet next week, featuring top names in local tech – and bringing national players to the scene.
The Pittsburgh Robotics Network (PRN) will host its fourth annual Robotics and AI Discovery Day event on Nov. 5 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. The event, set to be PRN’s largest yet, anticipates more than 200 exhibitors and 10,000 attendees this year.
Why the surge in interest? Annual event attendance has been climbing steadily for years, but Discovery Day’s name now includes “AI” to reflect the technology’s growing role in the Pittsburgh innovation scene, according to PRN Executive Director Jennifer Apicella.
“When it comes to innovation right now, businesses can’t afford to fall behind,” Apicella told Technical.ly. “This event is meant to accelerate their ability to access innovation.”
Plus, policymakers, investors and tech leaders from major companies – like the record-breaking $5 trillion giant NVIDIA – are expected to attend. This year’s exhibitor lineup also features major local players like autonomous trucking company Aurora and unicorn startup Gecko Robotics.
“You’re going to see the technology,” Apicella said. “That’s the point of this. It’s not to look at websites or things on a screen. This is about [a real] experience.”
A robot at the Photohaven makerspace booth during Pittsburgh’s Discovery Day (Alice Crow/Technical.ly)
For example, Aurora plans to bring one of its autonomous trucks inside the convention center, giving attendees a chance to “kick the tires” and learn more about the company, said Matt Blackburn, Aurora’s senior manager of government relations.
“It’s about being very transparent,” Blackburn said. “If you can hop in a truck and climb around and look inside, you have a different level of confidence and trust. You can say, ‘Wow, this isn’t just something I read about in the newspaper. This is a real thing happening in Pittsburgh.”
Earlier this year, the Pittsburgh-based company launched its self-driving trucks on Texas highways. It recently announced a second route in the state, as it plans to roll out hundreds of driverless trucks next year.
Turning introductions into impact
New connections, business deals and jobs are at the heart of PRN’s mission for Discovery Day – and it seems to be working.
In a survey conducted by the PRN after last year’s event, 78% of companies said it helped them grow their business network, and 87% of community organizations said the event connected them to new program participants.
Plus, with attendees being a mix of students, educators, job seekers and current technologists, Discovery Day provided more than 100 free headshots last year. Exhibitors recruited for nearly 300 open positions and met with 700 job hunters.
While the event is designed for people of many different interests and backgrounds, Apicella said, it’s especially valuable for attendees to meet early-stage tech startups that haven’t yet built up marketing strategies, a website or social media presence.
“Businesses came here and found Pittsburgh companies to work with. Sales were made, products were commercialized,” Apicella said. “Companies were able to develop investor relations and generate capital investment, so they were discovered in that way. Jobs were found … hires were made directly from connections made at the event.”
Pittsburgh’s role on the world stage
Interest in Discovery Day has surged this year.
Attendance is expected to climb from about 6,000 in 2024 to roughly 10,000 this year. The growth could reflect the event’s expanding reach beyond the region. Companies and organizations from around the world are expected at the showcase this year, according to Apicella.
“It’s not just Pittsburgh talking to Pittsburgh,” Apicella said. “We are a convener. We’re a hub. Others are attracted here and gather here because of the opportunities this provides.”
The third annual Discovery Day showcases local robotics startups (Alice Crow/Technical.ly)
With the event’s updated name comes a dedicated space for showcasing tech and AI companies, too. This year’s layout divides the convention center into themed zones, allowing attendees to explore the types of companies and organizations that interest them most.
Popular areas from previous years are set to return, like community and STEM programs, robotics, advanced manufacturing and career pathways.
Plus, Discovery Day is an “anchor event” for Pittsburgh Tech Week – a week of panels, networking events and demonstrations celebrating the region’s growing tech ecosystem. In fact, Pittsburgh Tech Week was moved this year to center around Discovery Day, according to Apicella.
“Pittsburgh is a global powerhouse for robotics AI and deep tech innovation,” Apicella said. “That’s not in research and development or in theory – that’s in the number of businesses operating here. That’s something that this region should be proud of.”