Mississippi is coordinating its education, research and policy to deal with the expanding and increasingly critical role of artificial intelligence. The Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network (MAIN) has published a framework of statewide priorities and educational goals to help its students and workforce to excel in that new world.
“The purpose of AI is not to replace human judgment, but to strengthen it. Mississippi’s learners and workers deserve more than exposure to tools. They deserve the critical thinking, ethical grounding, and adaptability required to lead in a world where AI is increasingly embedded across every sector,” reads the foreword, which reflects the framework’s conviction.
Dr. Kollin Napier is the director of MAIN.
The plan is a "northern star for the state to look towards for both K-12, post-secondary, workforce and any other initiatives and professional development to look towards in developing out those pipelines,” Napier says.
The framework will help teachers prepare their students for the new world, setting goals for each age group.
“We're focusing on what needs to be part of the curriculum that they learn. It describes who needs to learn what and when,” states Napier. “So, when we talk about K-12, we're not saying we're going to hand an AI chatbot to a third-grader.”
Napier says the priorities include AI literacy and access, ethics and responsibilities, data privacy and security, workforce readiness and flexibility, and sets goals and measurable outcomes. He says the framework is a map.
“This is not curriculum. This is not a mandate. This is not legislation. We're providing better transparency about the route we want to take as a state as AI continues to evolve,” Napier says.
But make no mistake, AI is becoming pervasive, and Mississippi wants to be ahead of the curve.
“We're not just solely focused on AI as an IT career. AI is a capability layer that spans all careers, all occupation pathways,” Napier states.
