Ferris State University is exploring the development of artificial intelligence and learning how it can be used in classrooms and beyond by creating two virtual students who will enroll and participate in lessons and activities through the evolving technology.

The virtual students, named Ann and Fry, will enroll as freshmen, starting classes during the Spring 2024 semester. They will be a part of hybrid classes, interact with classmates and complete assignments.

Faculty and staff will monitor the interactions with professors and classmates, then use what they have learned to apply to potential applications in education and other areas.

Molly Cooper, a Ferris State professor and scholar of information security, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence, said the virtual students’ experiences will help faculty members find new ways to make education more accessible, among other uses on campus and in the community.

“Ferris State is a leader in artificial intelligence education and can leverage its expertise to use the technology we teach to strengthen our ability to lead,” Cooper said. “The more we use artificial intelligence, we can see what it is capable of and how we can use it to do things more efficiently and effectively.”

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 is the development of computer systems that are able to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence. That can include visual perception, as well as speech recognition, decision-making and translating. AI technology can process large amounts of data to recognize patterns and make decisions.

The field is growing rapidly, with roles in cloud computing, cybersecurity, data science and robotics, among other areas. The scope of artificial intelligence applications is accelerating and becoming critical for more industries, from healthcare and education to marketing and logistics.

The virtual student project involves a variety of Ferris State academic departments and is being directed by the Information Security and Intelligence Department.

Faculty members created backstories for Ann and Fry based on real student experiences, which will be used to help them complete tasks such as declaring a major.

“These virtual students, and the work we are doing around them, are another example of Ferris State showing leadership in technological fields,” Provost Bobby Fleischman said. “Our students have opportunities to learn from faculty members who are experts in their fields, gaining skills with real world applications that will lead to rewarding careers.”

Ferris State hosted its first AI Day earlier this month, a faculty collaboration from various programs and student organizations.

About 300 area high school students attended sessions at the university’s Center for Virtual Learning and participated 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.