Courses
The Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network (MAIN)—the nation’s first and only statewide AI initiative—offers free AI courses designed to equip Mississippi’s workforce with practical, real-world knowledge of AI fundamentals.
Anyone in Mississippi can now enroll in free MAIN AI courses through partner institutions that have made these courses publicly accessible:
- Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC)
- MGCCC offers up to 6.4 CEU, 40 SEMI or 4 OSL credits for FREE to Mississippi K-12 educators!
- Pearl River Community College (PRCC)
- Northeast Mississippi Community College (NEMCC)
- Mississippi Delta Community College (MS Delta)
- Jones College (JC)
- Meridian Community College (MCC)
- MCC offers up to 6.4 CEU and 40 SEMI credits!
- Itawamba Community College (ICC)
- Copiah-Lincoln Community College (Co-Lin)
- Co-Lin offers up to 6.4 CEU credits!
If you work at or are enrolled in a public higher education institution in Mississippi, you have access to MAIN’s AI courses through your institution’s internal systems. Administrators, faculty, staff, and students can take advantage of these free AI resources to enhance their knowledge and skills. Contact your institution to learn how to enroll and start exploring the opportunities MAIN provides today!
Powered by Intel’s AI for Workforce curriculum, these courses feature rich, impactful content covering topics such as:
- Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Introduction to Generative AI (GenAI)
- AI for Manufacturing
- AI for Cybersecurity
- Applied Ethics for AI
- AI for Sustainability
- Introduction to Machine Learning (ML)
- Natural Language Processing (NLP)
- (NEW) AI for Computer Vision
- (NEW) Data-Centric AI
- More coming soon!
Delivered through the Canvas platform, the courses are organized into 16 sequential modules with up to 64 hours of engaging, self-paced content. Participants have the flexibility to progress at their own pace and complete as much or as little as they choose. Modules include interactive slides, supplemental videos, and assessments such as discussions, quizzes, and assignments.
Participants can earn professional development certificates throughout the program and micro-credentials upon completion. K-12 educators can also earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs), School Executive Management Institute (SEMI) credits, and Orientation for School Leaders (OSL) credits to support their teaching license. Availability and cost of these credits vary by institution.
With no deadlines, obligations, or instructor requirements, these self-paced courses make it easy to gain valuable AI skills on your own schedule.
Tools
Disclaimer: The Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network (MAIN) does not endorse any of the tools listed. They are shared solely as knowledge resources to support exploration, learning, and informed decision-making.Explore powerful AI tools to enhance your productivity and creativity:
- ChatGPT – A conversational AI developed by OpenAI, capable of generating human-like text for tasks such as drafting emails, writing code, and answering queries.
- Sora – An AI model by OpenAI that generates realistic and imaginative videos from text prompts, enabling users to create up to 20-second clips in various resolutions and aspect ratios. 
- Microsoft Copilot – An AI-powered assistant integrated into Microsoft 365, designed to enhance productivity by generating content, summarizing data, creating presentations, and assisting with tasks across Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more.
- Google Gemini – An AI model by Google that integrates advanced language understanding with image recognition, enabling users to perform tasks requiring both text and visual data processing.
- Claude AI – Developed by Anthropic, Claude AI is a conversational assistant designed to provide helpful, honest, and harmless responses, focusing on safety and reliability in AI interactions.
- Perplexity AI – A conversational search engine that utilizes large language models to provide direct answers to user queries, enhancing information retrieval with AI.
- NotebookLM – An AI-powered research and note-taking tool by Google that helps users summarize, analyze, and interact with their documents.
- BoodleBox AI – An all-in-one AI platform for education, offering tools for class preparation, responsible student-AI collaboration, and streamlined academic assessments.
- MagicSchool AI – An AI platform offering over 60 tools tailored for educators, assisting with lesson planning, assessments, and personalized learning experiences.
- Midjourney – An AI-powered image generator that transforms textual descriptions into visual art, widely used for creative projects and design inspiration.
- Suno – A platform specializing in AI-powered audio and speech solutions, providing tools for voice cloning, speech synthesis, and real-time audio generation.
- HeyGen – An AI video generation tool that creates customizable, professional-grade videos from text inputs, ideal for business presentations, marketing, and personalized messaging.
- GitHub Copilot – An AI pair programmer that assists developers by suggesting code snippets and functions within popular coding environments, streamlining the coding process.
- Canva – An online design platform that incorporates AI to assist users in creating visually appealing graphics, presentations, and documents with ease.
- DeepL – An AI-driven translation tool known for its high accuracy and nuanced translations across multiple languages, beneficial for both personal and professional use.
- QuillBot – An AI-powered paraphrasing tool that helps users rephrase and enhance their writing, offering features like grammar checking and summarization.
- Otter.ai – An AI-powered transcription service that converts spoken language into written text, facilitating efficient note-taking and meeting transcriptions.
- Phind – An AI-powered search engine designed for developers, providing instant answers, explanations, and code examples for technical questions.
- DeepSeek – An open-source AI model developed by DeepSeek-VL in China, capable of performing advanced tasks in natural language processing, code generation, and vision-language understanding.
- Owll – An AI-powered research assistant that helps users summarize academic articles, generate citations, and simplify complex topics for easier understanding.
- Read – An AI tool designed to automatically summarize meeting transcripts, identify key points, and generate action items to streamline communication and follow-ups.
New tools are continually being added, so check back often to discover the latest innovations in AI!
MAIN Focus
The Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network (MAIN) provides free AI learning opportunities through its MAIN Focus series. This series highlights individual AI tools, offering short, practical demonstrations to show how they can be applied effectively. By participating, learners gain hands-on insights into leveraging these tools in meaningful ways. MAIN is committed to continually expanding this series, introducing new tools and ideas to help integrate AI into everyday work and life.
This learning opportunity is currently offered by:
AI tools presented in MAIN Focus series:
- (NEW) Custom GPTs
- (NEW) NotebookLM
- Local AI
- Magic School AI
- Introduction to ChatGPT
- Microsoft Copilot & Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Copilot & Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Copilot & Microsoft PowerPoint
- More coming soon!
AI FAQs
- What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)?
- AI refers to computer systems designed to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as understanding language, recognizing images, making decisions, or learning from data.
- How old is Artificial Intelligence?
- The concept of AI dates back to the 1950s. The term “Artificial Intelligence” was first coined in 1956 at a conference at Dartmouth College, marking the beginning of formal AI research.
- What is machine learning?
- Machine learning is a subset of AI where algorithms improve automatically through experience by learning from data rather than being explicitly programmed.
- What is deep learning?
- Deep learning is a type of machine learning that uses layered neural networks to process data. It’s especially powerful for tasks like image recognition, natural language processing, and voice translation.
- What are neural networks?
- Neural networks are computer systems inspired by the human brain, made up of layers of nodes (or “neurons”) that process and learn from data. They are the core of many modern AI models, including deep learning systems.
- What is a Large Language Model (LLM)?
- An LLM is an AI system trained on massive amounts of text data to understand and generate human-like language. GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) is a popular example of an LLM.
- What is GPT?
- GPT stands for Generative Pre-trained Transformer. It’s a type of AI model developed by OpenAI that can understand and generate human-like text for tasks like writing, coding, and answering questions.
- What is Generative AI?
- Generative AI is a type of AI that can create new content—like text, images, or audio—based on the data it has been trained on. Examples include chatbots, image generators, and code assistants.
- What is agentic AI?
- Agentic AI refers to AI systems that can operate autonomously to complete tasks or pursue goals with minimal human input. These systems can plan, reason, and adapt based on changing conditions.
- What are AI agents?
- AI agents are software programs that use AI techniques to make decisions, take actions, and interact with their environment. Examples include virtual assistants, recommendation systems, and autonomous robots.
- How is AI used in everyday life?
- AI powers voice assistants, recommendation systems (like Netflix or Amazon), fraud detection, smart devices, and more. It’s becoming a part of many industries, from healthcare to education.
- What are the benefits of learning AI?
- Learning AI builds valuable skills for today’s workforce, including critical thinking, problem-solving, and understanding emerging technologies that are shaping the future.
- What are ethical concerns with AI?
- Ethical concerns include bias in decision-making, privacy issues, misinformation, and the potential misuse of AI technologies. Responsible use and regulation are key.
- Is AI safe to use?
- When used responsibly, AI can be safe and helpful. It’s important to verify information from AI tools and use them ethically, especially when dealing with sensitive data.
- What is the difference between AI and automation?
- Automation follows set rules to complete tasks, while AI adapts and makes decisions based on data, allowing it to handle more complex or unpredictable situations.
- How does AI learn?
- AI learns by analyzing large amounts of data, identifying patterns, and improving its predictions or responses over time through training and feedback.
- How can students and educators use AI tools?
- Students can use AI for research, writing help, or learning support. Educators can use it for lesson planning, grading assistance, and personalized learning.
- Do I need a technical background to learn AI?
- No. Many AI courses, including those from MAIN, are designed for beginners and focus on practical applications, not just programming.
- How can AI be used in manufacturing, healthcare, or education?
- In manufacturing, AI helps optimize production. In healthcare, it supports diagnostics and patient care. In education, it enables personalized learning and automates administrative tasks.