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Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is making big changes in education and job training. At San Jacinto College, we use AI to better support students and make work easier for teachers and staff.

What is Artificial Intelligence?

Here are some common definitions used when talking about artificial intelligence (AI):

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) uses advanced analysis and logic-based techniques, like machine learning, to understand events, support and automate decisions, create experiences, and take actions.

Difference between Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Artificial intelligence (AI) can copy how humans think and solve problems. Machine learning is a part of AI that uses math to teach computers to learn and get better by themselves.

Generative Artificial Intelligence is a part of Artificial Intelligence

Generative Artificial Intelligence is a type of AI. Traditional AI systems use existing data and patterns to make decisions. Generative AI, however, creates new content. It uses algorithms, like large language models, to learn patterns from a set of data and then makes new data that fits those patterns.

Retrieval-Augmented Generation

Retrieval-augmented generation is a technique in natural language processing that combines traditional information retrieval systems with generative artificial intelligence. This combination helps create more relevant and accurate text.

Artificial Intelligence IN THE CLASSROOM

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Our Belief in Artificial Intelligence Workforce Opportunities

Many people are worried that artificial intelligence (AI) will replace jobs and affect career choices. However, we believe that AI will push the workforce to more valuable positions. This will require workers to keep learning new skills to supervise and critically assess the results, products, and automations created by AI.
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Statewide Artificial Intelligence Core Elements Course

We are collaborating with the THECB Artificial Intelligence Project Advisory Group to create a course about AI that will be offered statewide to faculty, employees, and possibly students. The course will cover topics like ethics, proper use, basic prompts, and the benefits of artificial intelligence.

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Integrating Artificial Intelligence classes within existing programs

We're talking to our industry advisory councils and committees to learn what skills they need for the workforce. We're also adding artificial intelligence classes to existing programs like the Bachelor of Cybersecurity.
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Developing proposal for a certificate in Artificial Intelligence

We're creating a plan for a course on artificial intelligence. Our tech partners also have their own certification programs that can help people get jobs with their companies or customers who use their products. We want to offer similar programs, either as separate certifications or as part of our current degree programs.

AI at San Jac

Since 2018, we've used artificial intelligence to make student services better, offering support around the clock to make college resources easier to access. From our first chatbot to new AI tools, we're focused on helping students succeed with smarter technology.
  • We started using artificial intelligence by working with IBM to create a Watson chatbot called Ask Jac on the sanjac.edu website.
  • The chatbot helps students 24/7 by giving information about degrees, programs, financial aid, advisory services, and registration.
  • This initiative supports the College's digital student support strategy, using design thinking and student journey mapping.
  • Immediate adoption: more than 15,000 students used it, making it an important tool during the pandemic.
  • We added secure identity management (IAM) so students can access their data safely.
  • We also added a NICE chatbot for live advising.
  • We used Watson Discovery to create an AI-powered knowledge base.

    *Note: We did not include multi-lingual features because they did not meet expectations.
  • We're working with IBM to add Watson X's advanced generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) features.
  • We expect this will make the chatbot more useful and attract a wider audience.
  • Our goals include better conversational interactions and support for multiple languages.

Pilot Projects

We are testing Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) projects to see how they can be used in real life. We want to figure out what resources we need, create AI policies, and plan for future investments.

Jaci Artificial Intelligence Bot

Enhanced Student Services and Tutoring with Multilingual Digital Avatars

We're working with Dell and Uniqee to test a multilingual digital human avatar named Jaci. This new avatar could replace the chatbot on our website. Jaci is showcased on big interactive screens at each campus.

We're looking at how it can help, like giving interactive tutoring and better on-site student support. To get our community involved, we're holding brown bag sessions with CIT students to show and talk about this technology.

Microsoft CoPilot Logo

Testing Microsoft CoPilot: Artificial Intelligence Tools for Productivity

Microsoft CoPilot is being tested to replace many ChatGPT uses. It's a productivity tool that helps with tasks like creating content and visualizing data. The pilot group includes teachers, administrators, and staff from different areas.

CoPilot is part of Microsoft’s 365 products, working in tools like Exchange, Teams, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

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Improved Access to Information with Generative Artificial Intelligence

Generative artificial intelligence is helping faculty and staff access information more efficiently, which is improving student outcomes and employee productivity. This includes:

  • Using the College's ImprovE database with generative artificial intelligence to give specific actions and proven solutions for better results.
  • Improving access to internal communications, calendars, directories, policies, procedures, and forms to boost employee knowledge and productivity.
  • Creating an internal AI persona to help leaders, faculty, and staff learn about the College's accreditation requirements and get their questions answered.

Opportunities and Challenges

Artificial intelligence is changing higher education with tools like personalized learning and automated tests. While it offers many benefits, it also brings challenges like protecting academic honesty and intellectual property.
  • Risk of unauthorized faculty content use in large language models
  • Ongoing updates to policies for artificial intelligence and data privacy
  • Focus on consent and ownership of AI-generated content
  • Improved plagiarism detection
  • Current limitations in AI detection accuracy
  • Faculty working together to evaluate results
  • Automating routine tasks
  • Creating personalized learning experiences
  • AI-powered tutoring systems
  • Integrating with learning management systems
  • Possible decrease in human interaction
  • Effects on critical thinking development
  • Need for balanced implementation
  • High licensing costs
  • Data privacy and intellectual property worries