AI for All
BizAI Challenges Gives Students AI Experience Before College
The Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence Institute at the C. T. Bauer College of Business is expanding its reach to the community, teaching middle and high school students analytical and efficient AI usage.
The institute recently held its BizAI Challenge event, which taught students from seventh through 12th grade how the technology works in the business setting. Providing kids at this age range with hands-on learning opportunities is one of the institute’s priorities.
“Students at that age are very curious,” Endowed C. T. Bauer Chair of AI Meng Li said. “They have a lot of exposure to new technologies but making sure that they properly use them is a challenge for their parents and teachers. This is an important matter for us to address by improving their AI technology readiness.”
Students do not need prior experience to come into the workshop and are encouraged to build their foundational understanding there. Throughout the day, they work in small groups to analyze problems, practice with technology, and create presentations.
Ph.D. student Haowei Yang, who helped host the event, said events like this are about inspiring the youth to create.
“We want them to use AI to solve real business problems,” Yang said. “We don't want to just let them know how to use this tool; we also want them to think about solving basic problems creatively, critically and ethically.”
The BizAI Challenge is just one of many programs that the institute has held to help Houston-area children. Moving forward, Yang said they plan to keep the momentum going.
“We want to have a lot more events that are mentorship and project-based to better connect us with other communities and to help the youth,” Yang said. “Our institute is human-centered, so we want to let ourselves use the AI efficiently, not to replace us.”
Read more about the Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence Institute’s initiatives here.
Built with Shorthand