BIG RAPIDS, Mich. – Approximately 150 Michigan high school students will visit Ferris State University this week to explore educational and career opportunities in the emerging field of artificial intelligence (AI).
Ferris State University will host AI Day on Friday, December 1st. There, students will participate in a series of interactive exhibits and workshops, including a deepfake lab, an AI social engineering lab, a self-driving car race, navigating chat GPT, and using AI in space. satellite cybersecurity, according to a university news release.
The event, a collaboration between Ferris State faculty and student organizations, is designed to give students exposure to new technologies related to artificial intelligence, university officials said. Ferris State University has one of only three AI undergraduate programs in the nation.
“Artificial intelligence is changing the world, and Ferris College is preparing students to be leaders in artificial intelligence,” said Molly Cooper, professor at Ferris State University and scholar of information security, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. states. “Her AI Day at Ferris aims to provide students and guests with an immersive experience that highlights the ethical and safe integration of AI.”
AI Day kicks off at 10 a.m. Friday at Ferris State’s new $32 million virtual learning center. The center will open this fall and will house degree programs in information security and intelligence/artificial intelligence project management, professional esports production, and more.
Approximately 150 area high school students from the Kent Intermediate School District, Bay Arenac schools and Mecosta Osceola Career Center are expected to participate in the event. University leaders say these are students currently studying AI-related programs in high school.
In addition to interactive exhibits, students will participate in faculty-led discussions on “Preparing Michigan’s Workforce for the AI Wave: What Experience Teach Us,” and explore AI fundamentals, ethical implementation, and workforce empowerment. opportunities, and how Ferris State University develops its workforce. The next generation of leaders to meet the needs of our industry, according to a news release.
According to , Ferris State University’s Artificial Intelligence program is the only Bachelor of Science program in Michigan. university. The program was developed in partnership with the Department of Defense, National Security Agency, Department of Homeland Security, and Amazon Web Services.
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There are more than 800,000 jobs related to artificial intelligence in the United States, and the number is expected to exceed 2 million by 2026, according to a university news release. There are over 750,000 cybersecurity job openings nationwide. The Ferris State program provides students with career opportunities in both fields.
“We are excited to focus on emerging technologies that are relevant today and will grow in importance and usage in the future,” said Dave Murray, vice president of marketing and communications at Ferris State. says Mr. “Today’s high school students will be participating in a world where AI is part of everyday life. Ferris State University is a leader in this field and we look forward to introducing our students to the careers they can prepare for.” Masu.”