Today, Dr. Kollin Napier, Director of the Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network – MAIN, spent time throughout the day with more than 100 8th grade Cyber Foundations students at East Central Middle School – Hurley, MS in the Jackson County School District – Mississippi for a discussion on AI literacy and responsible technology use.
Students explored how artificial intelligence has evolved, how generative AI differs from traditional computing, and why ethics, critical thinking, and verification are essential skills in an AI-enabled world. Using student ideas and questions, Dr. Napier demonstrated how AI can generate text, images, music, and video, sparking conversations about limitations, accuracy, and the importance of critically reviewing AI outputs rather than accepting them at face value.
The discussion also highlighted how AI is already being used across industries such as cybersecurity, healthcare, manufacturing, and education, and why establishing responsible and ethical practices early is critical as students prepare for future careers.
As AI continues to shape the workforce, baseline AI awareness and digital citizenship are increasingly essential to career readiness. MAIN appreciates the teachers and administrators who create learning environments that foster critical thinking and connect classroom learning to real-world applications.