First statewide collaboration in the nation to advance artificial intelligence education unveiled

The Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network (MAIN) joins forces with Mississippi community colleges and universities alongside AI leaders, Intel Corporation and Dell Technologies, to nurture a thriving AI ecosystem.

MAIN, a new statewide coalition of Mississippi community colleges and universities, is partnering to bring the state’s educational institutions to the forefront of Artificial Intelligence (AI) awareness, training, and implementation with business and industry.  MAIN is funded by AccelerateMS and founded in partnership with two industry leaders in AI: Intel Corporation and Dell Technologies.  MAIN partners include all 15 community colleges in the state, as well as several Mississippi universities.

“MAIN represents one of the first statewide coalitions of higher education institutions in the nation focused on AI,” said Ryan Miller the executive director of AccelerateMS, the state’s Office of Workforce Development. “The alliance was forged in response to the rapid emergence of AI and the impact it is predicted to have on multiple sectors of the workforce.”  MAIN embraces a comprehensive approach to AI education, AI workforce training, and AI awareness initiatives. Supported by strategic partnerships, MAIN is poised to position Mississippi as a leader in the AI industry, driving economic growth and creating a prosperous future for the state.

“Artificial Intelligence is revolutionizing every aspect of our lives from education to healthcare to defense, and it is the driving force behind innovation and progress across a myriad of industries,” said Dr. Mary S. Graham, president of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. AI enables machines to imitate the decision-making and problem-solving capabilities of the human mind, creating a new frontier of limitless possibility.

Mississippi is perfectly positioned to embrace AI as a catalyst for its future growth and prosperity. AI has the potential to bring significant changes to the Mississippi economy, replacing some jobs, transforming other jobs, and creating new jobs. Nationwide, it is predicted that 85 million jobs will disappear by 2025 due to the adoption of AI; however, it is also predicted that AI will lead to the emergence of 97 million jobs by 2025.

MAIN held its first official meeting in December 2023, but the coalition began formation in the summer of 2023. Through funding from AccelerateMS, MAIN partners will receive funding to set up initial AI labs, recruit students, and participate in creating AI awareness campaigns. The coalition is in the process of hiring a director for the project that will serve as a partnership coordinator and assist in implementing AI curriculum across the state, staring with the Intel AI for Workforce program. As a key industry partner, Intel is providing the initial AI curriculum and faculty training to jumpstart the project, and as a leader in AI, Intel’s curriculum will ensure relevance with the quick evolution of AI technology.

“Dell Technologies is committed to building a future where everyone has the opportunity to learn about advanced technology,” said Hernan Londono, chief Technology and Innovation strategist for Education, Dell Technologies. “By collaborating with the Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network, we are helping community colleges and universities prepare laboratories with AI-ready technology and training that leads to real-world jobs in the future workforce.”

“As we stand on the threshold of an AI revolution, integrating AI is crucial for business and society to attain benefits and new opportunities for our communities; this requires broad access to AI skills. Intel is proud to support the Mississippi AI Network by providing workforce training through our AI for Workforce program, which empowers students with essential job skills such as data collection, computer vision, AI model training, coding, and responsible use scenarios, making technology more inclusive and accessible,” said Brian Gonzalez, executive director of Government Partnerships and Initiatives, Intel Corporation. “Mississippi stands out nationally for its dedication to adopting a unified statewide strategy in AI education, workforce readiness, and ecosystem development. We look forward to helping cultivate an AI talent pipeline in Mississippi, benefiting all its citizens.”

Mississippi stands at a crossroads of opportunity. The time is ripe to build on the AI momentum and create a nexus for business, talent, and investment in our state, leveraging our educational institutions that are already securing emerging technology innovations through grants. By nurturing a thriving AI ecosystem, Mississippi can diversify its economy beyond traditional industries, boost the state’s economy, and create high-wage tech, cyber, and AI jobs along with a pipeline of highly skilled workers to fill them, leaving a prosperous legacy for generations of Mississippians to come.