Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is celebrating a groundbreaking milestone in artificial intelligence education following Jackson State University’s immersive ChatGPT workshop, hosted in July 2025 in partnership with the Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network (MAIN) and OpenAI Academy.

The full-day event drew nearly 500 participants from across Mississippi’s education, workforce, and government sectors. With hands-on training from OpenAI Academy instructors, attendees gained practical skills in using generative AI tools like ChatGPT in real-world scenarios.

While the workshop was hosted at Jackson State University, it reflects the collaborative spirit of MAIN—founded at MGCCC—the nation’s first statewide AI initiative. MAIN unites Mississippi’s public colleges and universities with industry partners including NVIDIA, AWS, and Intel, ensuring that Mississippi leads the way in preparing students, educators, and professionals for the AI-driven future.

“Events like this workshop show the power of statewide collaboration and the importance of MAIN’s mission,” said Dr. Mary S. Graham, MGCCC President. “At Gulf Coast, we are proud to serve as the home of MAIN, which is helping Mississippi take bold steps toward becoming a national leader in artificial intelligence education and workforce development.”

The Jackson State event was not only the first of its kind in Mississippi but also a signal of what’s ahead. More workshops, training opportunities, and public-facing events will continue to expand across the state, empowering faculty, students, and workforce leaders alike.

“Mississippi is not waiting on the future. We are building it,” said Dr. Kollin Napier, director of the Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network. “This workshop showed the momentum across our state to equip educators, public officials, and workforce leaders with the tools they need to thrive in the AI era.”

JSU, a proud partner of MAIN, mobilized campus teams to deliver the July event, reinforcing its role in advancing applied research, entrepreneurship, and workforce readiness in emerging technologies. Earlier this year, JSU also received a $1.3 million state grant, administered by AccelerateMS, to expand AI workforce development programs—a sign of sustained investment in Mississippi’s AI future.

Through MAIN’s vision and MGCCC’s leadership, Mississippi’s higher education community is aligning resources to ensure the state remains competitive in a rapidly evolving technology landscape. The July workshop is just the beginning of a statewide movement designed to expand digital fluency, drive workforce innovation, and inspire the next generation of AI leaders.