Cascade Campus

NORTH PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Community College is gearing up to host a groundbreaking AI Symposium, set to span three days from Oct. 18-20 virtually and at the Cascade Campus, 705 N. Killingsworth St. This event is free and open to the public.

This symposium promises a comprehensive exploration of artificial intelligence’s far-reaching influence across various sectors of society. The event’s schedule is divided thematically, with each day dedicated to a distinct area of focus. On Oct. 18, the spotlight will be on “AI and Education.” The following day, Oct. 19, will delve into “AI and Industry,” and the symposium will conclude on Oct. 20 with discussions on “AI in Everyday Life.” 

The PCC AI Symposium is a unique opportunity to gain insights into the intersection of artificial intelligence and culture, making it an event not to be missed. Whether you are an educator, industry professional, or simply curious about AI’s role in our lives, mark your calendars for this intellectually stimulating event.

The versatility of these topics ensures that there is something for everyone, from educators to industry professionals to the general public. Registration for the keynote address and other sessions is now open (see session links below), and the program guide is available for download. In case of any registration issues, email ctle@pcc.edu.

Day One – Wednesday, Oct. 18

Keynote – Dr. Brandeis Marshall. 10 a.m. to noon, Virtual. Dr. Marshall is Founder and CEO of DataedX Group, a data ethics learning and development agency for educators, scholars and practitioners to counteract automated oppression efforts with culturally-responsive instruction and strategies. Brandeis teaches, speaks and writes about the racial, gender, socioeconomic and socio-technical impact of data operations on technology and society. She wrote Data Conscience: Algorithmic Siege on our Humanity as a counter-argument reference for tech’s "move fast and break things" philosophy. An ASL interpreter will be present for this Keynote Speaker Event. Register Now!

AI and Education – 12:30-2 p.m., Virtual. Ahead of the session, AI experts and researchers’ (Cynthia Alby, Kevin Kelly, and Colin Koopman) have submitted responses to questions from PCC faculty, staff, and students on the impact of AI on teaching and learning. Their responses will serve as the basis of an open discussion among PCC AICC cohort members and session attendees. Register Now!

AI at PCC – 2:30-4 p.m., Virtual. Presentation and Q&A with PCC AICC cohort members and Academic Affairs administrators on topics ranging from professional development, instructional support, academic integrity and AI, ChatGPT protocols and best practices. There will also be breakout groups to foster conversations and resource sharing. Register Now!

AI Campus Workshop – 4:30-5:30 p.m., Room 225, Technology Education Building. AICC cohort members will host an open lab for students and the general PCC community in order to showcase resources and equipment available on campuses and facilitate hands-on exercises with commonly-used AI tools. Register Now!

Day Two – Thursday, Oct. 19

AI in the Workplace – 6-8 p.m., Moriarty Arts and Humanities Building Auditorium. Join us for an opportunity to network and listen to a panel discussion from industry experts about AI in the workplace. Panel guests include: Will Landecker, Data Science Tech Lead, Next Door, Emmanuel Acheampong, co-founder, RoboMUA, and Melissa Evers, Vice President - Software and Advanced Technology Group, General Manager of Strategy to Execution at Intel Corporation. Register Now!

Day Three – Friday, Oct. 20

Spotlight Speaker Nick Insalata – 10-11:30 a.m., Moriarty Arts and Humanities Building Auditorium. Join us as we hear from our spotlight speaker Nick Insalata, PCC Computer Science faculty and AICC cohort member talk about the impacts of AI in our everyday life. Nick is interested in the challenges of making complex problems accessible, properly contextualized, as well as interesting and fun to learners of all levels. Register Now!

AI Campus Workshop – 12:30-2 p.m., Room 225, Technology Education Building. Hands-on labs will include how to create text, images, and even music with AI tools and the different ways to incorporate ChatGPT. AI tools include DALL-E 2, Modo Screen, Soundraw, Looka, Legal Robot, and Deep Nostalgia. Register Now!

AI in Everyday Life Panel Presentation – 2:30-4 p.m., Moriarty Arts and Humanities Building Auditorium. Join us as the AICC Cohort members lead a discussion from dooms scrolling to deepfakes, personal assistants to the 'end of work', AI promises both subtle and stunning transformations to our daily lives. Some of the topics discussed will include super intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, ethical AI, and advanced humanoid robots. Register Now!

About Portland Community College: Founded in 1961, Portland Community College is the largest post-secondary institution in Oregon and provides training, degree and certificate completion, and lifelong learning to more than 50,000 full- and part-time students in Multnomah, Washington, Yamhill, Clackamas, and Columbia counties. PCC has four comprehensive campuses, 10 education centers or areas served, and approximately 200 community locations in the Portland metropolitan area. The PCC district encompasses a 1,500-square-mile area in northwest Oregon and offers two-year degrees, one-year certificate programs, short-term training, alternative education, pre-college courses and life-long learning.

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