At Innovate Mississippi, we’re proud to be at our state’s forefront of AI innovation. Recently, a group of educators, business leaders, and tech enthusiasts gathered at the inaugural Southern Spark conference to explore the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in Mississippi. WLBT was on hand to cover this exciting event.
David Collins is Innovate Mississippi’s management consultant and entrepreneurial development lead and serves as chair of the Mississippi AI Collaborative. Collins highlighted our state’s crucial role in AI advancement.
“Mississippi is a place where AI is not only happening; we’re doing something about it,” Collins stated. Notably, the Mississippi AI Collaborative is one of only five recipients of a significant grant from data.org and the sole recipient in the United States.
This conference marks a pivotal step in our mission to dispel AI myths and showcase its practical applications. Dr. Nashlie Sephus, founder of The Bean Path and principal AI scientist at Amazon Web Services, emphasized the urgency of advancing AI. “If we’re not advancing, then we’re further getting behind, and that is something that we want to stop from happening,” she said.
Collins further explained the practical benefits of AI, noting, “AI enhances existing ideas and capabilities in real-time, making tasks like responding to emails and managing finances more efficient. It’s about augmenting people’s skills and making them more effective.”
The two-day conference, supported by sponsors such as Microsoft, Google, CSpire, and data.org, is one of the many ways Innovate Mississippi is committed to fostering a deeper understanding of AI.
Krystal Chatman, Co-Founder of the Mississippi AI Collaborative, stressed the importance of inclusivity in AI development: “Artificial intelligence is everywhere. We have space to determine what new developments are coming to support us.”
Watch and read the full story by reporter Courtney Ann Jackson at WLBT.com. We thank them for covering this exciting new event.
