BIG RAPIDS, Mich. -- About 150 area high school students will attend an artificial intelligence (AI) event Friday morning at Ferris State University in Big Rapids.
Ferris State has one of just three AI undergraduate programs in the nation. It has close ties to industry and government partners, including the Department of Defense, National Security Agency, Department of Homeland Security, Amazon Web Services, and many Michigan companies.
It's a collaboration between faculty and student organizations. High school students will participate in a series of interactive exhibits and workshops at the university's Center for Virtual Learning, which opened in August. They are coming to explore the emerging technology related to artificial intelligence, along with educational and career pathways.
The event runs from 10 a.m. until noon, with hands-on activities including deep-fake labs, autonomous vehicle racing and other visual activities. You are welcome to join us and talk with faculty and students.
Faculty will give a presentation on preparing Michigan's workforce for the "A-I Wave." Industry experts predict artificial intelligence will generate more than 2-million job openings by 2026.
“Artificial intelligence is changing the world and Ferris is preparing students to be leaders in Artificial Intelligence,” said Dr. Molly Cooper, a Ferris State professor and scholar of information security, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. “AI Day at Ferris is intended to provide students and guests with an immersive experience highlighting ethical and secure integration of AI.”
Per an FSU news release, the A.I. tech includes a Deepfake Lab, an AI Social Engineering Lab, autonomous vehicle racing, working with Chat GPT, and AI’s use in space and satellite cybersecurity.
AI Day activities include Ferris faculty presenting a discussion – “Preparing Michigan’s Workforce for the AI Wave: What Experience Tells Us” – to look at AI fundamentals, ethical implementation, opportunity for workforce enhancement, and how Ferris State is fostering the next generation of leaders to meet the needs of our industries.
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