At Houston Community College’s 4th Annual National AI Conference, educators, students, and industry leaders came together to discuss the growing influence of artificial intelligence across fields like education, gaming and manufacturing.
The event also marked a monumental milestone for HCC as the first community college in the U.S. and Texas to offer a bachelor’s degree in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics. The conference included keynote speakers, panelists, student showcases, and hands-on demos of AI.
AI in Education: Moderated by Dr. Habib Matar (CGCC) and joined by panelists Dr. G. Raymond Brown (HCC), Dr. Eduardo Salcedo (MDC), Dr. Lydia Kavraki (Rice University), and Dr. Hardik Gohel (UHV).
The education panel explored how AI is being integrated into classrooms and curriculums, particularly at the community college level. Panelists discussed both the opportunities and challenges AI presents for educators and students—from personalized learning tools to questions of accessibility and equity. The conversation also touched on preparing students for future job markets that will increasingly rely on AI literacy.
Student Panel: Moderated by Anthony Randall (HCC), with students Sha’necia Holden (HCC), Aradhana Sharma (UHV), Alan Guevara (MDC), and James Wicker (CGCC) discussing their experiences studying AI.
Students from multiple colleges shared their experiences studying artificial intelligence and robotics. They spoke about their academic journeys, current projects, and hopes for the future. Some emphasized the value of interdisciplinary learning, while others reflected on how AI has changed their career goals. The panel provided a student-centered perspective on how AI is shaping education from the ground up.
AI in Energy & Manufacturing: Moderated by Srikanth Bhakthan (Microsoft), with insights from David Thanoon (Shell), John Nixon (Siemens), Ted Rozier (Festo Didactic), and Michael Cassady (Invoke).
Industry professionals discussed how AI is being deployed in sectors like energy and advanced manufacturing. From predictive maintenance to data-driven automation, AI is transforming operations and improving efficiency. Panelists also discussed workforce development, highlighting the need to train students in both technical and soft skills to meet the evolving demands of the field.
AI in Gaming: Featuring Tony Liao (UH) and Chris Khuong (HCC), who discussed how artificial intelligence is changing the gaming industry from the inside out.
The gaming panel covered how artificial intelligence is influencing everything from game design to player experience. Speakers explored how AI can generate more dynamic environments, adaptive gameplay, and smarter non-playable characters (NPCs). The conversation also raised questions about the balance between human creativity and machine learning in storytelling and development.
As the conversation around AI continues to evolve, HCC’s conference made one thing clear community colleges are stepping up to lead in innovation and exploration.
