Insights & Research

The Center for Rural AI produces rigorous, actionable research that challenges assumptions, documents opportunities, and provides the evidence base for rural AI investment and policy. Our work spans primary research on rural AI readiness and deployment challenges, secondary analysis of the structural barriers limiting rural participation in the AI economy, and case studies documenting what works when rural communities lead their own AI transformation. We publish for multiple audiences: academic papers that contribute to scholarly understanding of technology equity and rural development, practitioner-focused whitepapers that provide implementation frameworks for institutions and businesses, and accessible blog content that helps community members understand AI's implications for their lives and livelihoods.

This research matters because decisions about AI development, deployment, and governance are being made right now—often without rural data, rural voices, or rural context. Our insights challenge deficit narratives about rural communities, document the opportunity gap that rural exclusion represents, and provide the proof points that unlock institutional investment and policy change. Whether you're a university leader evaluating AI strategy, a policymaker crafting rural development initiatives, a business owner exploring AI applications, or a community member trying to understand what AI means for your region, our research provides the evidence and analysis you need to make informed decisions and take strategic action.