Louisiana
Louisiana races to hire AI workers as majority of pilot projects fail
Demand for more Midwest data centers skyrockets
What are data centers and why are they needed?
Nearly all corporate artificial intelligence pilot projects fail to deliver measurable business value, according to new research — a finding that comes as Louisiana companies accelerate AI hiring faster than the data workforce needed to support it.
A national analysis by data consultancy DoubleTrack found that 95% of generative AI pilot projects fail to produce measurable profits, a rate that researchers attribute largely to weak data infrastructure rather than shortcomings in AI technology itself.
Despite that failure rate, Louisiana employers are hiring AI specialists far faster than data infrastructure workers. The study found Louisiana companies posted 151% more AI and machine-learning jobs than data infrastructure roles, ranking the state among the most imbalanced AI labor markets in the country.
According to the analysis, Louisiana employers advertised 548 AI-related positions compared with 218 data infrastructure jobs, meaning companies are hiring more than two AI specialists for every data engineer or platform specialist; the reverse of what experts recommend.
According to the study, industry consensus suggests that organizations should hire at least two data infrastructure professionals for every AI specialist to ensure that data is reliable, integrated, and usable. Without that foundation, AI systems often stall or are abandoned.
The consequences are already visible nationwide. Research cited in the report shows 42% of companies scrapped most of their AI initiatives in 2025, more than double the abandonment rate from the year before.
The findings carry particular significance for Louisiana as the state courts data centers, advanced manufacturing and digital infrastructure projects, including large-scale developments proposed in Caddo and Bossier parishes. While such projects promise billions in capital investment, they depend on robust data pipelines, power reliability and utility coordination — areas that require deep data infrastructure expertise.
Data centers, in particular, employ relatively few permanent workers but rely heavily on specialized data engineers to manage system redundancy, cybersecurity, data flow and integration with cloud and AI platforms. A shortage of those workers could limit the long-term impact of the projects Louisiana is working to attract.
The report also raises questions for workforce development and higher education. Louisiana universities have expanded AI-related coursework in recent years, but researchers say data engineering, database management and system integration skills are just as critical — and often in shorter supply.
Only 6% of enterprise AI leaders nationwide believe their data systems are ready to support AI projects, and 71% of AI teams spend more than a quarter of their time on basic data preparation and system integration rather than advanced analytics or model development, according to research cited in the study.
Those infrastructure gaps can have ripple effects beyond technology firms. Utilities, energy producers, health systems and logistics companies — all major pillars of Louisiana’s economy — increasingly rely on AI tools that require clean, connected data to function reliably.
DoubleTrack recommends companies adopt a 2-to-1 hiring ratio, with two data infrastructure hires for every AI specialist, to reduce failure rates.
“The businesses most at risk aren’t the ones moving slowly on AI,” said Andy Boettcher, the firm’s chief innovation officer. “They’re the ones who hired aggressively for AI roles without investing in data quality and infrastructure.”
As Louisiana pushes to position itself as a hub for data-driven industries, researchers say closing the gap between AI ambition and data readiness may determine whether those investments succeed — or quietly join the 95% that do not.
Heading into this weekend’s series at Louisiana Tech, No. 12 Southern Miss was confident it could come into Ruston, La., and get a big road series win while also showing the proper amount of respect for its opponent. Louisiana Tech was also confident, but perhaps those hard feelings toward Southern Miss got in the way of it reaching its goals on Friday night.
“Coach (Lane) Burroughs, he doesn’t like Southern Miss,” Louisiana Tech freshman Casey McCoy said earlier this week before the series began. “We’re going to do everything we can to beat them. We want to sweep them.”
Well, the series has yet to be determined, but you can count out the possibility of a Louisiana Tech sweep, as Southern Miss went into “The Love Shack” and won the first game of the series, 8-3, behind a couple of big home runs and exceptional pitching down the stretch. Bulldogs head coach Lane Burroughs was ejected from the game in the fifth inning for arguing with the umpires.
The Golden Eagles got off to a quick start in Ruston, as lead-off man Ben Higdon hit a single to left field off of Louisiana Tech starting pitcher Declan Dahl in the top of the first inning. Dahl then gave up a two-run home run to Joey Urban on the next at-bat, giving Southern Miss an early 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the second inning, Louisiana Tech tied things up at 2-2 after Casey McCoy hit a two-run bomb against Colby Allen. The Bulldogs then took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the third with a single that scored a man from third.
Just like in Tuesday night’s beatdown of Alabama, Southern Miss got some big fireworks in the fourth inning. Senior second baseman Kyle Morrison hit what was the Golden Eagles’ second grand slam of the game in the fourth inning against the Crimson Tide, and he followed that by hitting his team’s second homer of the game against the Bulldogs on Friday night. It was a three-run shot to centerfield to give his team a 5-3 lead.
Southern Miss added three more insurance runs in the top of the eighth inning thanks to singles from Davis Gillespie and Seth Smith, and the Golden Eagles ended up taking the first game of the series, 8-3. USM’s experience in the batting lineup remains one of the team’s biggest strengths.
Southern Miss senior RHP Colby Allen, who is still adjusting to his new role as the Friday-night starter, was hoping to get more of an extended run in his third start of the season, but some early-inning trouble ended up forcing head coach Christian Ostrander to make a move in the top of the fifth inning. Allen ended the night with five strikeouts, six hits given up, and a total of 87 pitches through 4.2 innings. He was one out away from securing his first win of the season.
Senior LHP Kros Sivley (2-0) got the win on Friday after registering two strikeouts in 1.2 innings with only one hit and no runs given up. Junior RHP Josh Och, who has been outstanding so far this season, got the save, as he struck out the final five batters he faced to end the game.
Before the season started, some believed the Golden Eagles’ starting pitching might be stronger than their bullpen, but through nine games, the opposite has proven to be true. However, it’s a long season, and it wouldn’t surprise us if USM’s starting pitching starts to peak at the right time. We only got to see three arms from Southern Miss on Friday, so Coach Oz has a lot to choose from over the next two days.
According to Warren Nolan’s RPI rankings, Southern Miss currently ranks No. 1 after beating Louisiana Tech on Friday. USM’s in-state rivals, Ole Miss and Mississippi State, rank No. 2 and No. 41, respectively. The Golden Eagles will face both of them in Hattiesburg in the coming weeks, starting with Mississippi State on Tuesday night at Pete Taylor Park. Obviously, it’s way too early to pay too close attention to RPI rankings, but it’s always good to see a team performing well with a tough schedule.
Southern Miss will look to extend its winning streak to nine games on Saturday while also securing a series win over Louisiana Tech. First pitch at “The Love Shack” is scheduled for 4 p.m. and can be streamed on ESPN+. Stay tuned to Southern Miss Golden Eagles On SI for more coverage throughout the weekend.
Content on this page may include affiliate links. If you click and sign up/place a wager, we may receive compensation at no cost to you.
New legislation in Baton Rouge would reclassify some illegal gaming-related offenses as racketeering law violations, elevating potential consequences.
Louisiana has already stepped up its enforcement of its gaming laws related to potential illegal gaming but a new bill in the state legislature would give prosecutors’ actions more teeth. The proposal would elevate certain crimes involving unlicensed gaming in the state to a racketeering charge with more severe penalties linked to convictions.
If you’re in a legal online casino state, claim 500 bonus spins plus up to $1,000 in casino credit at Golden Nugget by clicking here:
Louisiana bill changes classification of gaming-related charges
Louisiana Rep. Bryan Fontenot has pre-filed HB 53, which could rewrite the state code as it pertains to unlicensed gaming sites. The legislation has been provisionally assigned to the House Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice, as the 2026 session does not begin until March 9.
Under the proposal, the state’s definition of racketeering would expand to include “gambling, gambling by computer, gambling on cockfights, gambling by electronic sweepstakes, unlawful wagering, and bribery of sports participants.” Under current statutes, racketeering convictions carry penalties of fines of “not more than one million dollars, or imprisoned at hard labor for not more than 50 years, or both.”
Additionally, racketeering convictions that result in sentences of fines of at least $10,000 revoke recipients’ eligibility for parole. The enactment of this bill as currently composed could have a significant impact on the operation of sweepstakes-based online casino sites for real money in Louisiana.
At the same time, many of the companies in that space have already ceased potentially infringing actions within Louisiana.
Tap here to get a $40 credit plus 500 bonus spins at FanDuel Casino:
Louisiana has already been off-limits for sweepstakes casinos
In 2025, Louisiana gaming regulators and law enforcement took multiple actions to restrict residents’ access to unlicensed platforms for playing casino games online. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill shared a public notice about the illegality of sweepstakes-based online gaming sites, in addition to issuing cease-and-desist orders to the companies affiliated with those sites. As a result, many of the operators of those sites geofenced Louisiana out of their service areas.
The Louisiana Gaming Control Board supplemented that action with its additional cease-and-desist letters. Fontenot’s bill could add additional weight to these demands if it becomes law.
There is currently no legal framework for playing online casino games or redeeming casino bonus codes in Louisiana. While online sports wagering is legal in most of the state, officials in Baton Rouge have not yet tackled the issue of iGaming.
Even if voters in Louisiana someday do clear the way for the utilization of Fanatics Casino promo codes, that would involve licensed gaming and not affect the implementation of Fontenot’s bill. However, such deliberations do not seem imminent.
If you’re in a legal online casino state, claim 1,000 bonus spins on Triple Cash Eruption at Fanatics Casino when you click here:
If HB 53 becomes law, Louisiana could levy some of the toughest penalties for illegal gaming activity in the United States. Many potential targets of prosecution have already pulled out of the state.
Driving Louisiana Forward Program
Commerical Driver’s License (CDL) Training
In partnership with the Louisiana Workforce Commission and South Louisiana Community College, this program aims to provide African American males with financial assistance to obtain Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training, strengthening the resilience and contributions of this key demographic and improving equitable access to workforce opportunities. This initiative aims to reduce high unemployment rates within this community but also focuses on ensuring participants come from rural and economically disadvantaged areas.
Earn your CDL Class A license with this comprehensive classroom and behind-the-wheel program to drive tractor[1]trailers, dump trucks, tow trucks, delivery trucks, tanker trucks, and flatbed trucks.
How a Parks Worker Lives on $37,500 in Tompkinsville, Staten Island
Preview: February 28 vs. Detroit | Carolina Hurricanes
Sunset Night Market makes official return to San Francisco
Letters to the Editor – Three Cheers for a Plano fire station, Dallas Parks & Rec, voting
Miami heat: Phones are ringing off the hook as California billionaires look to drop 9 figures on homes in the 305
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Indiana Members Credit Union announced as new anchor tenant at Bottleworks District
ICE blasts Washington mayor over directive restricting immigration enforcement
Did the EU bypass Hungary’s veto on Ukraine’s €90 billion loan?
How the federal government is painting immigrants as criminals on social media
Where Iran’s ballistic missiles can reach — and how close they are to the US
Has India’s influence in Afghanistan grown under the Taliban?
-
World2 days agoExclusive: DeepSeek withholds latest AI model from US chipmakers including Nvidia, sources say
-
Massachusetts3 days agoMother and daughter injured in Taunton house explosion
-
Montana1 week ago2026 MHSA Montana Wrestling State Championship Brackets And Results – FloWrestling
-
Louisiana5 days agoWildfire near Gum Swamp Road in Livingston Parish now under control; more than 200 acres burned
-
Denver, CO3 days ago10 acres charred, 5 injured in Thornton grass fire, evacuation orders lifted
-
Technology7 days agoYouTube TV billing scam emails are hitting inboxes
-
Technology7 days agoStellantis is in a crisis of its own making
-
Politics7 days agoOpenAI didn’t contact police despite employees flagging mass shooter’s concerning chatbot interactions: REPORT