The U.S. Department of Commerce is broadening the mission of its National AI Center in San Francisco, transforming it from an export-focused initiative into a hub that also connects federal agencies with commercial artificial intelligence technologies, MeriTalk reported.

Speaking at the General Services Administration’s (GSA) Federal Emerging Technology Showcase, Commerce Chief Technology Officer Moksh Jawa said the center was originally established to support the American AI Exports Program, created under President Donald Trump’s July 2025 executive order. However, its focus has since expanded.

“The center was opened in March with a focus on being a standing ground initially just for rolling out the American AI Exports Program, but now, we’re hyper-focused on also enabling American AI companies to work directly with government,” Jawa said.

Jawa noted that San Francisco was deliberately chosen as the center’s location because of its proximity to leading AI companies. The goal is to create a government presence that can strengthen relationships with AI innovators and support the adoption of American technologies.

He added that the initiative naturally aligns with GSA’s expertise in technology evaluation and procurement, creating opportunities for closer collaboration.