For over a decade, Sadie St. Lawrence has led at the forefront of AI and data science. From rural Iowa roots to founding the global nonprofit Women in Data, she built her career on one core belief: people deserve access to the future.
That conviction drives the Human Machine Collaboration Institute (HMCI), which she founded as a catalyst for regional AI transformation. HMCI goes beyond talk — it designs and deploys integrated AI and robotics ecosystems, putting powerful computing directly into communities.
In partnership with NVIDIA, Rapt.AI, FarmGPU and others, HMCI is anchoring the Greater Sacramento region’s effort with cutting-edge infrastructure. On Nov. 19, 2025, HMCI and Rapt.AI announced the deployment of NVIDIA GB10 Grace Blackwell Superchip systems, the first wave of shared, high-performance computing arriving locally, with access for universities, startups and civic teams launching in early 2026.
Backed by a historic $5 million commitment from the City of Rancho Cordova, the initiative is already attracting national attention.
“We’re here to give people the tools to create,” St. Lawrence says. “When you put this level of computing and research capacity into a community, innovation accelerates and entire regions transform.”
HMCI emphasizes orchestration — the human skill of directing multiple AI systems toward shared goals while leading applied research, multi-user collaboration platforms, robotics testing and governance frameworks that let cities adopt AI safely and at scale.
This blend of infrastructure, research and regional partnership sets HMCI apart. It’s about enabling local students, entrepreneurs and leaders to invent new industries, not just train for them.
From rural Iowa to powering one of America’s first municipally backed AI and robotics ecosystems, Sadie St. Lawrence is proving that the future of AI doesn’t have to be decided in Silicon Valley. With GB10 systems now deploying and a growing coalition mobilized, Greater Sacramento is building that future itself — one orchestrated collaboration at a time.
