MS AI Collaborative

Ghost in the Machine will be screening at Capri Theatre
on Tuesday, September 8, at 6:30 p.m., thanks to a partnership between the Mississippi Humanities Council, the Mississippi Film Society, and MS AI Collaborative. The documentary examines the human labor, cultural materials, natural resources, and infrastructure often hidden behind this new era of instant automation. The discussion will consider who benefits from AI and who bears its social and environmental costs.

The screening is part of Reel Intelligence: Mississippi Conversations on AI, a film-and-discussion series that places human experience—not just technology—at the center of the conversation. All screenings are free and open to the public and will be followed by a moderated public discussion examining AI and its effect on our human experience. Rather than asking simply whether AI is good or bad, the series will consider questions of power, authorship, identity, belief, memory, responsibility, and human judgment.

Reserve your free ticket here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ghost-in-the-machine-screening-tickets-1999038848007

Future Reel Intelligence screenings include:
🎟️ Your Attention Please | October 13 | 6:30 p.m. | Location TBD
🎟️ The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist | November 10 | 6:30 p.m. | The Capri Theatre

We’re so excited to partner with the Mississippi Humanities Council and Mississippi Film Society for a series of free AI screenings.

What histories, assumptions, and systems of power are embedded in the technologies reshaping our lives?

Join us for the launch of Reel Intelligence: Mississippi Conversations on AI, a new film-and-discussion series placing human experience—not just technology—at the center of the conversation.

Our first screening features Valerie Veatch’s Sundance documentary, Ghost in the Machine, a provocative examination of artificial intelligence, its historical foundations, and its consequences for society. The film will be followed by a community conversation inviting Mississippians to think critically together about the futures we are building.

📅 Tuesday, September 8
🕡 6:30 p.m.
📍 Capri Theatre, Jackson

MississippiHumanities CommunityConversation DocumentaryFilm

New to AI? Start here.

The AI Basics pathway introduces core AI concepts, generative AI, and practical digital skills. It is a strong starting point for beginners, students, community members, and anyone curious about how AI can be used responsibly and effectively.

Begin at mississippiai.org

Join Mississippi’s AI community. Open to all.

This year-round space is designed for educators, students, entrepreneurs, creatives, nonprofit leaders, and community partners who want to learn, share, and build together.

Use the community to ask questions, share resources, find opportunities, and stay connected beyond any single event or program.

Join here: sospark.ap.social

Southern Spark Day 2 was full of vibrant conversations and excellent presentations!

In the morning we heard from Tony Jeff of about exciting things happening with Innovation in the state of Mississippi. Shelley Thompson from Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services spoke about valuable work being done by students at the ITS hub, and spark chats by Jamal Lewis and Julie Jordan highlighted strategies for expanding AI exploration and infrastructure. Our final panel with AI research fellows Gieshala Mims, Ed. S., MBA, James Robinson, PhD, and LaMarcus Norman, Ed.D. considered what the future might hold for AI in education across the state.

Thank you to Dr. Loretta Moore from Jackson State University for her thoughtful and humorous keynote. Dr. Moore shared her career journey, from Bell Labs, to NASA, to NSF, and back to JSU, and encouraged everyone to reflect on why responsible AI development matters for our communities.

We appreciate everyone who attended! We hope you left with information to share, a grounded vision of what the future might bring, and excitement about what collaboration can achieve.

Shoutout to our host Krystal Chatman, our Chair David Collins, our code guru Bob Buseck , and our tech visionary from

Southern Spark Day 1 is over and we miss it already!
Thank you to everyone who showed up, engaged, and thought about building grounded futures with emerging technologies.

From a proclamation by Mayor John Horhn recognizing the work of and , to an electrifying lunchtime keynote by Chris Chism, to an AI solution challenge sponsored by , we had a full day of programming and wonderful conversations.

We’re back tomorrow for a full day of sessions and fun!
Thank you to all of our sponsors and vendors for making this conference possible.
Amazon Web Services (AWS), Nathan Cummings Foundation, DataDotOrg, Mississippi Coding Academies, Khan Academy, Our Village United, Inc., Mississippi Cyber Initiative, Bean Path, Jackson State University, Innovate Mississippi

Less than 100 days until Southern Spark!

In just 86 days, innovators, educators, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and community leaders will gather at Jackson State University for Southern Spark 2026.

Get your early bird attendee and exhibitor tickets now! 🌐mississippiai.org

Over three days we’ll explore:
-Hands-on AI workshops
-AI in education and workforce development
-Business and startup applications
-Community and policy conversations shaping the future of AI in the region

Southern Spark is about ensuring the South helps shape the future of AI.
📍 Jackson State University
📅 June 10–12, 2026

👀 Agenda preview coming soon. We’ll be announcing speakers and sessions over the next few weeks.

TechEcosystem