Recognizing the developments and systemwide interest in artificial intelligence, ITS-Innovation partnered with the CO Campus Engagement team and other ITS colleagues to host AI in July– a month-long series of virtual events- in lieu of the traditional Cal State Tech Connect Conference. The program committee conceptualized a series of online sessions featuring keynote speakers, AI challenge prompts, and campus showcases highlighting the AI work of CSU talent and sponsors throughout July. Some of the goals of AI in July were to explore AI’s role in higher education, share strategies for evolving in an AI-driven world, and expose colleagues to helpful and fun AI tools for work and play. AI in July was graciously sponsored by AWS and Unysis. For a first-time event, 1,188 people registered from all 23 campuses and the Office of the Chancellor.
Keynote Sessions
The kickoff keynote event welcomed Microsoft Education’s Dr. MJ Jabbour, the mid-month keynote featured EDUCAUSE’s John O’Brien and the closing keynote panel hosted three higher education subject matter experts: Alexander “Sasha” Sidorkin (Sacramento State), Brian Basgen (Emerson College), and Dr. Lorna Gonzalez (CSUCI). Each session had its own perspectives on the emergence of AI tools and technology in the education sector and forecasted trends and use cases to enhance student success and utilization.
Microsoft Prompt-a-thon
Microsoft also facilitated a Prompt-a-thon for CSU participants to learn about prompt engineering and using LLM models to one’s advantage. The half day of programming was instructional in the morning and had hands-on applications in the afternoon with ITS staff as breakout facilitators. Participants practiced crafting prompts to yield results for hypothetical scenarios in the workplace.
AWS Party Rock
As a sponsor, AWS had the opportunity to showcase one of their newest AI tools- Party Rock. The provided a demo of Party Rock and invited participants to explore and generate ideas for apps using the AI technology.
Campus Showcases
Campuses had opportunities to share their developments and advancements in AI through a series of campus showcases. With so much interest, AI in July arranged three showcases with distinct themes: Chatbots; Teaching, Learning & Research Applications; and an SDSU showcase. Innovation’s own Aniket Patel and Leon McNaught shared their Zammo pilot that addresses questions related to the CSU’s Accessible Technology Initiative. Other featured chatbots included a Zammo AI project at Chico State and “Ask Cody,” an AI-powered chatbot using custom full stack architecture on Google Cloud Platform at CSUSB. The teaching, learning, and research showcase hosted a demo of Chat2QTI (a custom GPT developed at Chico State that streamlines quiz and test creation for instructors), AI-enabled classrooms at CSUN, and high-performance computing infrastructure at CSUF. To highlight all their developments, SDSU took the spot of the last showcase to feature TIDE, AAAI, and Pepper- an AI robot San Diego State University’s Brown Center for Artificial Intelligence.
Prompt Parties
Lastly, sprinkled throughout the month of July were “Prompt Parties.” A favorite of the community, Prompt Parties were asynchronous occurrences in which participants engaged in the AI in July Slack channel where challenges were posted. Challenges encouraged CSU members to try new AI tools such as music generation, mermaid flow charts, and various GPT models. Creativity flowed as AI-generated campus mascots and unique campus theme songs flooded the Slack channel.
AI in July had an overwhelmingly positive and strong response from the Cal State Tech community. As generative AI and other associated innovations evolve, the CSU remains committed to staying up to date on new developments. Visit the CSU’s Systemwide Generative AI Resources webpage for more information and AI news.
