Before the dawn of the modern era, when pioneers like Henry Ford and the Wright brothers were changing the world, Corning was quietly charting a course of innovation that continues to this day.
Best known to many Americans for its glass products that have been fixtures in kitchens for generations, Corning has also spent decades developing technologies that have transformed the modern world.
From the glass used in Thomas Edison's light bulbs to the durable screens protecting billions of smartphones, Corning's legacy is one of quiet revolution.
Nearly 175 years after its founding, Corning is once again helping shape a technological revolution.
As demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure surges, the New York-based manufacturer is ramping up production of optical fiber, the backbone of the high-speed networks powering AI.
The company is also partnering with a leading chipmaker to create 3,000 jobs in two states, demonstrating the potential of AI to drive growth and create jobs in the manufacturing sector.
Despite concerns that AI will replace human workers, Corning's Chairman, CEO and President says the opposite is happening inside one of the nation's oldest manufacturers.
"AI is a huge job creator, and it's a huge manufacturing job creator," Wendell Weeks said.
The AI boom is driving demand for Corning's optical fiber while fueling the company's fastest period of growth in nearly two centuries.
"As a 175-year-old company, we're going through our fastest growth period," Weeks said.
"We will probably double our size over the coming years and almost all of our new hires will be in advanced manufacturing, a significant part of them right here in America."
On Corning's factory floors, employees are seeing firsthand how demand for AI platforms is driving the need for the company's products.
"Right now, the world needs our glass optical fiber to support the AI demand we're seeing," said Emily Capek, a planning supervisor at Corning's Wilmington, North Carolina, facility.
Her comments reflect a much broader trend, as companies like Corning supply the glass technology that connects AI systems and supports the industry's rapid expansion.
The investment is already translating into the opening of new U.S. factories and creation of American jobs, with more than 3,000 jobs expected to be created across both states.
Corning's partnership with NVIDIA is a key driver of this growth, and Weeks said he's proud to be working with the company's CEO to build the infrastructure powering the AI revolution.
The AI manufacturing boom is also attracting foreign investment into U.S. manufacturing, with a Taiwan-based electronics manufacturer establishing AI supercomputer manufacturing operations in Texas for NVIDIA.
As America marks 250 years of independence, Corning's Chairman says the country's next chapter of innovation will depend on manufacturing these breakthrough ideas at home.
"The tools change, but the approach doesn't," said Weeks.
