The Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network (MAIN) put advanced AI tools directly into the hands of the people who run the state. On May 29, 2026, state officials, agency leaders, and academic leaders gathered at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC) in Biloxi. There, they spent a full, hands-on day with Anthropic’s AI tools through Claude. Importantly, this was not a day of slides about what AI might do someday. Instead, people actually built with Claude and saw exactly where it fits their work.
Key Details
- What: A free, hands-on day of building with Anthropic’s AI tools through Claude.
- Who: MAIN, MGCCC, Anthropic, and MDITS, with state officials, agency leaders, and academic leaders.
- When: Friday, May 29, 2026, 9 AM to 3 PM.
- Where: Hospitality Resort Management Center, MGCCC, Biloxi, Mississippi.
- Why it matters: Leaders went from first exposure to working tools in one day. In turn, AI skills connected to real government, education, and workforce needs.
Together with MGCCC, Anthropic, and the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services (MDITS), MAIN made the day happen.
What Happened at Anthropic Day Mississippi
The day centered on practical application, not theory. First, after morning account setup, leaders from MAIN, MGCCC, and MDITS welcomed the room. MGCCC President Mary Graham opened the day. Next, Dan Graves of Anthropic gave an overview titled Safe AI for Public Service. After that, Lizzie Alvarado Ford led an in-depth product demonstration.
From there, the room got hands-on through two guided labs. Finally, the day closed with a showcase of the real things people built. In fact, watching leaders demo their work just hours after learning the tools was the highlight.
The Tools: Claude, Claude Code, Claude Cowork, and Claude Design
Attendees worked with a full suite of Anthropic’s tools. Each one suits a different kind of public sector work:
- Claude: the core assistant for writing, analysis, communication, and problem-solving.
- Claude Code: an agentic coding tool for building and automating technical tasks.
- Claude Cowork: an agentic workspace that lets non-developers delegate knowledge work.
- Claude Design: a canvas-based tool for creating and iterating on visual work through chat.
How the Day Was Structured
The agenda moved deliberately from foundations to building. First, a short Claude Interview brainstorm helped attendees frame their own use cases. Next, Lab 1, Learn the Foundations: Specialize Claude, taught Claude the intricacies of each attendee’s work. As a result, the tool could produce relevant, grounded results.
Then Lab 2, Accelerate: Build with Claude, focused on producing high-quality outputs. In addition, it offered breakout tracks for Claude Design and Claude Code. Therefore, participants could go deep on the path most relevant to their role.
From Learning to Building in Hours
The End of Day Showcase made the value clear. Across education, workforce, government, and industry, attendees demonstrated tools they had built that same day. As a result, the format proved the point of Anthropic Day Mississippi. In short, these tools are accessible enough for public servants to build something useful in one session.
Thank You to Our Partners
Above all, thank you to our partners at Anthropic, to MDITS, and to our hosts at MGCCC. Of course, thank you to everyone who rolled up their sleeves and dug in. In the end, it was a great cap to a productive week for AI in Mississippi’s public sector. Finally, more photos and video are coming soon.
What’s Next: The 30-Day Challenge and Getting Involved
Then the day closed with the kickoff of a 30-Day Challenge. In other words, attendees got an invitation to keep building and turn momentum into habit. So if you want to be part of what comes next, here is where to start:
- Join MAIN to connect with Mississippi’s AI community.
- Subscribe to our newsletter for event announcements and resources.
- Explore our courses to keep building your AI skills.
Finally, to learn more about the Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network, visit mainms.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Anthropic Day Mississippi?
Anthropic Day Mississippi was a free, six-hour hands-on event. MAIN held it on May 29, 2026, at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in Biloxi. There, public sector leaders learned to build with Anthropic’s AI tools through Claude.
Who organized Anthropic Day Mississippi?
The Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network (MAIN) hosted it. In addition, MGCCC, Anthropic, and the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services (MDITS) partnered on the event.
Which AI tools did attendees use?
Attendees worked with Claude, Claude Code, Claude Cowork, and Claude Design. They used them across two guided labs and a closing showcase.
Who attended?
State officials, agency leaders, and academic leaders attended. They came from across Mississippi’s education, workforce, government, and industry sectors.
How can I get involved or attend a future event?
First, join MAIN and subscribe to the newsletter. Then, explore the courses at mainms.org to hear about upcoming events.