Courtesy image.
CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) is hosting an AI Basecamp event on Wednesday, Aug. 21 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Del Norte Hall in order to give the campus and the public an opportunity to assess the impact and explore the uses and concerns surrounding Artificial Intelligence (AI).
“We’re calling it a base camp (as opposed to a summit) because as far as AI has come in such a brief period of time, it still feels like a moment where we’re just beginning,” said Assistant Vice President of Digital Learning Lorna Gonzalez. “An event like this is meant to bring our community together to hear about what’s happening regionally and to have a shared experience about something that has been highly disruptive and will continue to be.”
The event is a public inquiry into the uses and effects of AI on regional business, health care and education. The in-person event is already filled to capacity, but the public is invited to watch a livestream of the event.
“AI is going to be and already is transformative in so many aspects of our lives,” said CSUCI Dean of Extended University and Digital Learning Jill Leafstedt. “It’s developing faster than we’ve seen any other form of available technology. We need more people to be exposed to and asking more questions about AI. I think education plays a role in informing our region about these technologies.”
The day will begin with opening remarks from CSUCI President Richard Yao, followed by a panel of speakers from the regional workforce, including executives from Cottage Health and The Trade Desk as well as the Superintendent of the Oxnard Union High School District, Tom McCoy, Ed.D.
The second panel of speakers will be comprised of CSUCI students at different stages of their educational journey, including the CSUCI student government president, two incoming first-year students, a graduating senior and a master’s degree student.
“They will talk about their experience so far with AI, how they’re learning about it, their concerns, their hopes, and how it’s preparing them for the workforce,” Leafstedt said.
The last panel of the morning will be faculty members from CSUCI who will talk about how they have integrated AI into their teaching. Five breakout sessions after lunch will go further into the integration of AI into higher education with subjects ranging from using AI to analyze student data to deep fakes to AI bias. Sessions will be held from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in Del Norte Hall.
Gonzalez acknowledged that there is a lot of concern about AI—how effective it is or is not, and whether it will replace the human worker.
“It can’t do your job as well as you can,” Gonzalez said. “What it can do is help you do your job better than you do. When people are speaking out of fear, they typically haven’t tried AI themselves. The more you try it, the more you see its possibilities and limitations.”
Registration for the livestream is available online
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY CHANNEL ISLANDS — California State University Channel Islands?(CSUCI) is Ventura County’s only public university and opened in 2002 as the 23rd campus in the?CSU system. CSUCI is located between Camarillo and the Oxnard Plain, midway between Santa Barbara and Los Angeles.
The campus is nestled against the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains and is a 10-minute drive from the Pacific Ocean. With more than 5,100 students, 27,500 alumni, and 1,000 employees, CSUCI is poised to grow in size and distinction, while maintaining one of the most student-focused learning environments in public higher education with more than 90 academic degrees, teaching credentials, certificates, and professional and community programs.
Connect with and learn more by visiting www.csuci.edu or CSUCI’s Social Media.
The University encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs, events and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation, or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact the respective area below as soon as possible, but no later than seven (7) business days prior to the event/activity:
CSUCI Students: accommodations@csuci.edu
CSUCI Employee and members of the public: angela.portillo@csuci.edu