SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) — In the capital of innovation, the city of San Jose and San Jose State University have created a public place where people can gain access to and learn about AI.
With participation from private sector companies such as OpenAI and Adobe who will provide free workforce training at the new AI center, this joint effort with the city of San Jose has gained the support of Mayor Matt Mahan who is pushing to raise the level of artificial intelligence literacy and create greater employment opportunities.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Library was the first in the nation to combine services of a public and academic library at the all new AI Center for Civic and Social Good.
“This is about creating a space that is open to everyone and get access to training, curriculum, computing, power, and really have that direct access that our libraries have been providing for- what, centuries?” Mayor Matt Mahan said.
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The center is a way to advance artificial intelligence and provide opportunities for every skill level.
The Dean of the SJSU library Michael Meth says AI is a next generation technology, but this center is for all generations.
“There will be student programming, of course,” Meth said. “There will be faculty programming, but also programming for young children that want to come in with a caregiver and also for folks all across the age spectrum who just want to learn what is AI? How do I get it? What can I do for me? What do I need to know?”
SJSU students and faculty and city staff offered presentations on opening day.
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But soon, some of the top companies in the world, including OpenAI, will lead courses.
The hope is to allow people to learn how to responsibly and effectively use AI, in many situations, and build a better Bay Area through artificial intelligence.
“The impact of this center will be felt across our city and in our libraries, from students and job seekers to entrepreneurs, innovators and our city’s workforce,” City Manager Jennifer Maguire said.
“Using the fundamentals they can gain from this AI center, they can carry on this knowledge and use it in real world applications in their future,” Student AI program leader Anish Roy said.
The center is available for public use during open lab hours Monday through Friday, beginning on April 6th. You can learn more information by clicking here.
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