Two artificial intelligence students, given the names Ann and Fry, are being created to participate in class lectures, and will be enrolled this semester.
The AI students are invented through the development of artificial intelligence and evolving technology. They are operated by students and faculty who are part of the artificial intelligence, the information security and the software engineering degree programs. They were created at the FSU Center for Cybersecurity and Data Science. Once fully operational, they will be set to interact with professors, students and will complete assignments in hybrid classes.
The university is one of three colleges with graduating programs that involve artificial intelligence. Associate Professor in Management Dr. Kasey Thompson is leading the initiative and development of Ann and Fry, acknowledging that fact and how it led to more faculty work with artificial intelligence to discover its beauty and uncertainty.
“Being one of the few colleges with graduating programs in artificial intelligence, we lead significant efforts on the record and off the record related to cybersecurity and artificial intelligence,” said Thompson. “When we think about Ann and Fry, there are quite a few outcomes that we’re hoping to accomplish from a goals perspective. But what makes this most exciting is that we don’t know what we don’t know and that’s the pure nature of artificial intelligence.”
Thompson mentioned that technology is changing constantly when it comes to artificial intelligence. Every couple hours, there’s an advancement or a breakthrough and that the programs involved in the creation of Ann and Fry are excited to experiment with the new AI technology.
Provost Bobby Fleischman, who’s also the vice president for Academic Affairs, believes that Ann and Fry will help the university as a whole, but will benefit the students the most.
“Ann and Fry will help the university tell the story through the eyes of students,” Fleischman said. “We have an opportunity to have the most important people on campus, who are the students, experience AI through the lens that has been created for Ann and Fry. I don’t know that we know what it’s going to be in the end, but we know it’s going to be exciting.”
Like Thompson, Fleischman also mentioned that technology is changing in artificial intelligence, but Fleischman stated that the technology is developing really quickly with different iterations, which gives the programs opportunities to create and discover new things, including the AI students.
Fleischman also stated that the AI program was not just the first at the university, but also the first in the entire state. He found that to be a reason the development of Ann and Fry began by getting students and faculty to experiment with the technology.
“We have a great opportunity to educate students to attract through recruiting students because of us having the first AI program in the state of Michigan,” Fleischman said. “We’re leaders in so many different areas, and I think Ann and Fry will give us the opportunity to be even more creative and innovative.”
Artificial intelligence sophomore Jhanvi Murugan gave her excitements, concerns and input on the new AI students.
“I am really fascinated by the fact that we would be joined by two AI students,” Murugan said. “As AI is a growing field with more newer changes coming, I think having students like Ann and Fry can significantly enrich our academic environment. The potential for more projects and research is something that really excites me. However, with the advancements there can be a lot of ethical concerns too. The social impact of how to keep a balance with these innovations and the development of AI with moral values and impacts on society.”
Contact COB@nullFerris.edu to learn more about the artificial intelligence program and the AI students.