Industry and academic leaders, startup entrepreneurs, graduate students and researchers convened in Sioux Falls to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming critical sectors and industries.
Artificial intelligence is transforming nearly every sector of society, and South Dakota State University’s Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering is leading critical conversations on the role AI is playing in reshaping industries key to South Dakota, the region and the United States.
Over 400 industry and academic leaders, startup entrepreneurs, graduate students and researchers congregated on March 27 in Sioux Falls’Sanford Event Barn for the university’s first Innovate AI Symposium.
The one-day event was highlighted by the announcement of the university’s new Center for AI Innovation and Emergent Technologies. The center, made possible through $750,000 of federal appropriations through Sen. Mike Rounds, will ensure SDSU’s graduates are ready to thrive in an AI-driven world.
The morning session’s keynote presentation, titled “No Zip Code Left Behind: AI, Virtual Care and the Future of Rural Health,” was given by David Newman, Sanford Health’s chief medical officer for virtual care, who discussed how AI can help improve rural health outcomes through virtual care. A panel discussion of health care industry leaders, including executives from Sanford Health, Avera Health, Monument Health and Revolution Medicines, followed the keynote presentation.
SDSU’s faculty-led AI research was on full display at the symposium. Chulwoo Pack, assistant professor in the McComish Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; Semhar Michael, associate professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics; Nicholas Butzin, associate professor in the Department of Biology and Microbiology; and Victor Taylor, vice provost for graduate education and extended studies, each presented on their AI-applied research.
The student poster session demonstrated the breadth and scale of AI-related research at the university level. Research projects covered everything from lithium-ion batteries to phenology assessment in wheat plants to social media analytics. While the posters primarily came from SDSU master’s and doctoral students, there were a few students from other South Dakota and North Dakota universities in attendance.
Lt. Col. Riley Hestermann, executive officer to the adjutant general for the South Dakota National Guard, gave the afternoon’s keynote presentation, titled “AI at the Front Line of National Security.” Hestermann discussed how AI is currently shaping defense operations, from autonomous drones to cyber defense, and the need for trustworthy and responsible AI. A panel discussion surrounding AI and national security between representatives from the U.S. Strategic Command and National Guard followed the keynote address.
