Funding the AI future Rick Plympton ’83, ’85, corporate fellow and former CEO of Optimax, has donated $50,000 to the FLCC Foundation to support artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives at FLCC. “AI is a new technology that will change how work gets done. Just as computers transformed workplaces, AI will provide new opportunities to work more efficiently. We need to create learning pathways that are suitable for everyone in our community who is interested in starting their AI journey,” Rick explained. The funds are an investment in teaching students basic AI skills. Rick’s gift will pay for faculty release time and other costs associated with the development of courses. The funding may also pay for speakers, workshops for the community, and consulting with AI experts. Rick’s donation follows an October 2024 decision by the FLCC Board of Trustees to set aside $100,000 for AI initiatives. This includes use of AI in the curriculum and to improve College operations. THELAKER | 19 to look for better ways to get work done. Shena first learned about AI while a student. As president of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society, she invited a faculty member to present on its ethical use. “The talk introduced many students to ways to incorporate AI while continuing to be the author of their work,” she said. “It can be used to organize thoughts, make timelines and outlines … but by no means can it be used to replace the mind of a student.” At the summit, Shena discovered new and deeper ways to engage with AI using prompts. “I had no idea that you could create entire personas using AI to provide more specific and insightful responses,” she said. Shena was referring to a technique in which a user asks AI to provide feedback from the point of view of a specific individual. A persona could be a fictional business owner or a real, well-known figure with expertise in a particular field. Chris said AI has already transformed his business. IT Insights provides services like network monitoring, security and data backup. “Our entire team has Claude licenses, and it’s become integral to our daily operations,” he said, referring to an AI tool. “We’re already seeing huge changes. Issues get resolved faster, we can actually predict when things might break before they do, and we’re spotting patterns across all our clients that help us make better recommendations.” The future Long-term, Chris expects AI to flip the business model for managed service providers like his company. “Instead of just fixing things when they break, we’ll be more like strategic tech advisors, using AI to stay ahead of problems and give clients real business insights they’ve never had before. The MSPs that get this shift will become true partners, not just the people you call when your server crashes.” AI is often promoted for its creativity. Trudi said it cannot replace human perspective and judgment. “As an interior designer, I don’t see AI as a threat – I see it as a tool. It only knows what you tell it, so the average homeowner can’t simply generate a workable design, know which trades to involve, source the right materials, and bring a project to life. There’s still so much value in having someone who can ask the questions you don’t even know to ask, guide the process, and navigate the inevitable hurdles along the way.” Shena said she and her co-workers all use AI but in different ways. “We are all unique in our needs and expertise,” Shena said. “I use AI while maintaining my own voice, my own unique personality, and my own curiosity and insights to produce my work. No AI can replace my mind. I choose what to put in, what to extract, and how to use what AI provides.” Shena Edington-Bright ’24 Chris Sirianni ’08 Rick Plympton ’83, ’85
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