Dr. Kollin Napier, chief artificial intelligence officer for the Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network (MAIN), joined The Ricky Mathews Show to discuss how Mississippi businesses and communities can prepare to use AI responsibly. SuperTalk Mississippi published the interview on September 1, 2026.
Napier described MAIN’s work helping organizations assess their AI readiness and shared an update on the Gulf Coast Business Council’s Masters Leadership Program. As a member of the class, he is helping participants use AI to examine existing plans and identify shared priorities for Coastal Mississippi.
Preparing people to use AI well
Napier pointed to growing AI literacy and easier-to-use technology as factors helping people move from curiosity toward practical use. He described AI as a thought partner that can help users examine ideas, critique their work and explore ways to complete a task.
Human judgment remains central to that process. Napier emphasized that users need to review AI responses, even when they sound confident, and remain accountable for the work they produce. Critical thinking and the ability to explain a decision are essential professional skills when working with AI.
Mathews offered examples from his own writing and show preparation. He described using AI to identify gaps and ask questions about a draft, while continuing to seek feedback from a human editor.
Turning business interest into strategy
For employers, Napier encouraged a practical assessment of where AI could improve existing work. He described MAIN’s conversations with businesses, government agencies and nonprofits about their current capabilities, needs and possible applications.
That assessment should guide an organization’s strategy and technology decisions, he said. Leadership and staff need to consider useful applications together, with IT and cybersecurity teams involved in due diligence. As tools change, organizations also need to revisit their choices and determine what makes sense for their work.
Connecting Coastal Mississippi’s plans
The interview also examined the Masters Leadership Program’s regional “plan of plans.” Napier described an effort to bring together publicly available strategic plans from municipalities, institutions and other regional organizations, including plans involving Stennis and airports.
By comparing those documents, the class is working to identify common priorities, gaps and projects with evidence of regional value. Napier said the effort is reaching a review stage that brings business expertise into the discussion and focuses on readiness and accountability.
“It’s a framework for deciding which investments can actually create measurable regional value,” Napier said.
The work builds on the program’s February 18 kickoff at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s Harrison County STEM Building. In its February 24 account of the launch, the Gulf Coast Business Council described Napier’s foundational AI training and a hands-on ChatGPT workshop focused on research and collaboration.
Napier connected the regional planning work to workforce preparation in shipbuilding, defense, aerospace and logistics. He emphasized the need for workers and institutions to be ready to use AI productively and safely as the Coast competes for economic opportunities.
Watch the full conversation
Watch the interview on SuperTalk Mississippi’s YouTube channel.
Mississippi learners can explore MAIN’s free, online AI courses. Employers can visit MAIN’s business resources for training and guidance on responsible adoption.