The AI Innovation Lab, backed by $6 million from Google, will bring selected high school students to the university’s downtown campus for daily lessons in AI, machine learning, problem-solving and design thinking, with instruction coming primarily from Georgia State students.
The initiative is designed to expand exposure to emerging technologies to ensure students are ready for college and an evolving workforce, according to a news release from the university.
“At Georgia State, we believe talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not,” L. Jared Abramson, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Georgia State, said in a public statement. “This collaboration with Google allows us to change that — to connect students in Atlanta’s public schools to the world of technology while preparing our own students to teach and lead in that space. We’re building pathways into the innovation economy that will have an impact far beyond our campus.”
Georgia State graduate and undergraduate students will act as instructors and mentors, a structure the university says will benefit both groups. High school participants will gain structured AI training, while the college mentors will get practical experience in teaching and instructional design, important skills for future educators. Google volunteers will supplement the student instructional teams.
The university said its status as an R1 research institution and proximity to corporate and nonprofit partners in technology will aid in scaling the program.
“Google has proudly called Georgia home for more than two decades with an office in Atlanta and a data center in Douglas County,” Monique Picou, Google Cloud chief product supply officer, said in a public statement. “We are committed to helping students and educators across the state access essential AI and digital skills training to succeed in the workforce and advance their economic opportunities.”
