Tools & Platforms
LSUA betting on growth for Louisiana’s AI industry
ALEXANDRIA, La. (KALB) – As Meta, parent company of social-media giant Facebook, continues construction of a $10 billion Artificial Intelligence (AI) data center in Richland Parish, the areas beyond northeast Louisiana, well into Cenla, are preparing for new economic opportunity.
Some educators and businesses in Cenla see the data center as the possible start to a tech hub in rural Louisiana.
Dr. Nathan Sammons is Dean of the College of STEM at Louisiana State University Alexandria, which has recently added an Artificial Intelligence concentration to their Computer Science degree program.
According to Dr. Sammons, LSUA is currently the sole undergraduate university with an artificial intelligence concentration for its Computer Science degree.
“As of today, LSUA is the only undergraduate university that has a degree in computer science with a focus in artificial intelligence,” said Dr. Sammons.
Meta’s AI data center is projected to provide more than 500 direct jobs and over one thousand indirect jobs once it is completed. According to Meta and Louisiana Economic Development, at its height, the construction project will require about 5000 workers.
Stephanie Alston is CEO of BGG Enterprises, a North Carolina-based executive recruitment agency. She said these jobs should be seen as more than just a paycheck.
“They offer career pathways in the world of AI,” said Alston. “which is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world.”
Alston said the data center is a game changer for Louisiana and that is an opportunity that could position the pelican state, rural Louisiana in particular, as the next big AI hub in the United States.
“It could also potentially help them attract more investments moving forward and also create more pathways outside of some of those traditional industries that are out there,” said Alston.
While construction of the data center is ongoing, LSUA has adapted its education to create a pathway for Cenla students to move directly into those jobs.
This, according to Dr. Sammons, is the main objective behind their new AI Concentration for their BA in Computer Science.
“These graduates would be able to engineer the artificial intelligence systems there, help improve those systems, but also be able to care for the tech that’s there,” said Dr. Sammons.
Dr. Sammons said CS majors will still take the traditional classes associated with that major, however those in their AI Concentration will branch out into AI-centered classes, such as data mining, predictive modeling, machine learning and deep learning.
Dr. Sammons also said LSUA students who are not CS majors can also obtain a minor in AI. This is all part of LSUA’s goal of becoming a pipeline for AI needs and preparing students for next generation technology.
“The promise of AI is that it brings innovation into the hands of anyone with experience,” said Dr. Sammons. “People in the garage…starting a new company, someone that wants to do a startup and they envision something online, AI can help them bring those ideas to fruition.”
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A high school in suburban Chicago was awarded a grant to implement AI-powered gun detection technology.
Oak Lawn Community High School District 229 was one of 50 recipients selected nationwide for the Omnilert Secure Schools Grant Program, the school said in a recent announcement.
The district was awarded a three-year license for Omnilert Gun Detect, an “advanced AI-powered gun detection technology” — at no cost.
The AI system identifies firearms “in real-time through existing security camera infrastructure,” the announcement said.
Once a potential threat is identified, the AI system activates a rapid response process by alerting school officials and law enforcement, ultimately ensuring that threats can be addressed “as quickly and effectively as possible,” the announcement said.
The implementation of the AI system aligns with District 229’s security strategy, that includes a combination of physical safety measures, emergency preparedness and mental health resources, the announcement said.
The school said staff training and safety drills will be done to ensure the technology is used effectively and responsibly.
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