Author: Whitney Miller / WWL Louisiana
Published: 10:21 PM CST February 20, 2024
Updated: 10:21 PM CST February 20, 2024
NEW ORLEANS — Fifty lucky students at Dillard University got a big surprise on Tuesday. Brand new Laptop Go 3’s.
Microsoft distributed them as a donation to help tackle the digital divide. Along with the donation, Stem Nola taught an interactive introductory course on generative AI.
“This is what the rest of the world is teaching their children,” said Dr. Calvin Mackie of STEM NOLA. “They need to be exposed to it; no matter what career they choose, once they leave Dillard, they will have to deal with artificial intelligence and data analytics.”
“I mean, these young adults have their future ahead of them. When they get out of Dillard they are going to be in a place where they can affect the community if they so chose to,” said Jordan.
Daijah Hubbard, a Dillard senior in Biology, says while she doesn’t know much about AI now, she’s starting to understand its importance.
“When I was younger, I always said by now we will have flying cars or something like that,” said Hubbard.
According to Forbes, 64% of businesses expect AI to increase productivity. Dr. Mackie says it’s part of the reason education is a glaring solution to some of the city’s toughest issues.
“Anti-crime is education, and education starts with exposure,” said Mackie. “That’s why instruments like Pepper [STEM NOLA’s Generative AI Robot] and classes like artificial intelligence is very important for our students.”