New Artificial Intelligence Center To Open At North Campus In November

The future of technology is coming to Miami Dade College.

North Campus will open a new Artificial Intelligence Center on the second floor of building 1. It will introduce students to the emerging field through classes, workshops and laboratories. 

Although it’s still under construction, the center is expected to be open by November and offer six-week programs to earn badges in areas like incident response and data protection. It will be fully operational—with courses and workshops—for the spring semester.

“The evolution of technology is showing that artificial intelligence is part of every new company looking to disrupt the market,” said Antonio Delgado Fornaguera, MDC’s dean of engineering, technology and design. “The students who know how to engage in AI, even when they’re not technology students, have an advantage in the job market.”

According to computer hardware giant IBM, artificial intelligence is a field that combines computer science and robust datasets to involve machines in learning, reasoning and problem-solving.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that 531,200 new jobs will be created in the artificial intelligence field by 2029. They include occupations like software developer, machine learning engineer and robotics scientist that earn a median annual wage of $91,250.

It was the field’s projected demand that inspired MDC to create the AI Center.

The College allocated five million dollars to construct the hub. In addition, software used for workshops, courses, student clubs and activities—the cost of which has not been determined yet—will be funded through a 10-million-dollar grant that IBM gave MDC last April to train students for high-demand tech jobs.

“This program will allow students to understand how artificial intelligence is affecting the industry and their profession, and how they need to be ready for the workforce,” said North Campus President Fermin Vazquez. “The College has plans for artificial intelligence and understands how important this technology will be moving forward in the future.”

Those who enter the facility will be greeted by an AI concierge, a hologram that provides directions and information about programming and events. The hologram is run by an IBM engine called Watson.

Surrounding the lobby are a high-tech computer room and laboratories for quantum computing, design thinking and robotics. The latter is connected to a makers lab—a space where students can create machine prototypes—equipped with 3D printers, computer numerical control machines, gadgets that can be checked out and a space to work with liquid materials.

There are also classrooms, administrative offices, a presentation room, a meeting room and an AI command center. In addition, the walls and flooring structure can be readjusted in the future to meet new needs.

The space will be used for workshops and courses focused on how artificial intelligence can be applied to different industries. Miami Dade College is working with companies like Microsoft and IBM to create a curriculum for credit and noncredit students.

Some of those plans are already being carried out. A new course called AI Thinking that explores technologies and concepts used in artificial intelligence and digital competency, became available at North Campus this fall.

“The AI center was designed as a resource to support MDC students, faculty, staff, and community across all campuses to teach, learn, and collaborate and realize AI’s potential for MDC,” said George Gabb, who teaches the AI Thinking course, during June’s Board of Trustees meeting. “Artificial intelligence is for everyone.”

But the new center is not the only way MDC hopes to engage with artificial intelligence. This month, the School of Engineering and Technology received a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation to create more projects focused on the field.

“This is some of what we’re going to see coming in the near future,” Delgado said. “More things are coming—really good things and great news—that we are planning for MDC [to be involved] in the future of AI.”