GAUTIER, Miss. — On July 28, 2026, Dr. Kollin Napier, chief artificial intelligence officer of the Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network (MAIN), met with local business, civic, and community leaders at the Gautier Area Council. The 8:30 a.m. conversation at Gautier City Hall focused on how Mississippi communities can prepare for an AI-enabled future.
Napier discussed MAIN’s statewide work, answered questions from attendees, and connected participants with no-cost training, practical resources, and support for businesses and communities.
Connecting local leaders with practical AI education
For employers, public officials, and community organizations, AI readiness begins with people. MAIN provides an accessible starting point through no-cost AI courses for Mississippi learners that help participants build practical knowledge and job-relevant skills.
Business owners and local leaders can also explore MAIN’s practical AI resources, including guidance designed to help organizations understand responsible adoption, workforce preparation, and useful next steps. Additional information for employers is available through MAIN’s business resources.
Questions from Gautier’s business and civic community
The question-and-answer discussion gave attendees an opportunity to ask how artificial intelligence may affect local organizations, employees, and the broader community. Napier connected those questions to MAIN’s work in AI literacy, workforce development, and responsible use.
Local conversations like the Gautier Area Council meeting help connect statewide coordination with the needs of individual communities. They also give participants clear next steps for learning and organizational planning.
Thank you to Gautier and Jackson County hosts
MAIN thanks the Gautier Area Council, Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, Jackson County Small Business Incubator, and City of Gautier officials for hosting the conversation and bringing local leaders together.
Mississippians can enroll in MAIN’s no-cost AI courses, browse the network’s AI resources, or explore services and support for organizations preparing to use AI responsibly.