Ferris State University is exploring the transformational impact of emerging artificial intelligence technology, connecting high school students with potential educational and career pathways in evolving and increasingly important fields. 

Ferris State University AI Day is planned for Friday, Dec. 1, and is a collaboration with faculty from a variety of programs and student organizations. 

“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.” 

Ferris State’s Artificial Intelligence program is 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. 

Artificial Intelligence has over 800,000 job openings in the United States and is projected to be over two million by 2026. Cybersecurity has more than 750,000 openings nationwide. The Ferris State programs prepare students for career opportunities in both fields. 

About 150 area high school students attend morning sessions at the university’s Center for Virtual Learning, which opened in August.  

High school students will participate in a series of interactive exhibits and workshops with Ferris State faculty and students focused on artificial intelligence technology, including 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.