Today, Dr. Kollin Napier, Director of the Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network (MAIN), facilitated an in-person AI training session for staff from the Mississippi Development Authority and colleagues from across state government focused on the responsible, practical use of Microsoft Copilot in government and professional settings.
The session provided a hands-on introduction to artificial intelligence fundamentals, with an overview of Microsoft Copilot as both a standalone tool and within Microsoft 365 applications including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams. Dr. Napier covered common use cases, prompt fundamentals, image generation, data considerations, limitations, and safety, with an emphasis on skills participants can apply immediately in their day-to-day work.
Thank you to everyone who attended and actively engaged throughout the morning. The questions and discussion reinforced the importance of building AI literacy that is practical, policy-aware, and grounded in real workflows. The goal was for participants to leave with a clearer understanding of how Copilot can function as a true co-pilot across the Microsoft ecosystem.
Dr. Napier also appreciated the opportunity to highlight the ongoing work of MAIN and our partnership with organizations like MDA to support no-cost AI education, workforce readiness, and responsible AI adoption across Mississippi.