Story by Arlette Valdivia, Staff Writer and Hannah Kampitan, Co-Editor-In-Chief | Photo Courtesy of Arlette Valdivia and Gary Graves
The North Orange County Community College District hosted the “AI Expo: Empowering Minds” event at Cypress College, bringing together students, faculty, and community members to explore the evolving role of artificial intelligence and its impact on the future on April 16, 2025.
The expo was designed to educate participants on the multiple uses of artificial intelligence, reflecting on how AI has shaped the workforce, student learning, and teaching. The showcase offered live demonstrations of AI in action, where presenters highlighted real-world applications. Workshops were tailored to specific groups (K-12 educators, students, Cypress faculty, and staff), with each section providing focused lessons on how AI is relevant to their fields. Workshops included “AI for Lesson Planning and Accessibility,” “Custom Chatbots with PlayLab AI,” “Ethical Considerations in AI,” and beginner sessions through the “AI 101: Introduction to AI Tools” workshop. Breakout sessions provided hands-on experiences, allowing participants to engage with AI.
Justin Puerta, a computer-science major, participated in the program’s AI Expo Prompt-A-Thon, where groups of students from different colleges were tasked with using AI to find solutions for specific problem prompts. “With the task of coming up with AI solutions, we were given multiple problems to solve. This could be with ChatGPT, Deepseek, or Firefly…the team with the most descriptive prompt and best solution won,” Puerta said. “I personally lacked the experience in using AI for task solving, so I didn’t do as well as the others. It was a very engaging, fun process and learning experience!”
Playlab CEO, Yusuf Ahmad, was the scheduled Keynote Speaker for the event. According to Gary Graves via LinkedIn, a Fullerton College representative and contributor on the planning team, another speaker stepped in.
“Dr. Christyn stepped in to deliver a powerful and inspiring message about the future of student-centered, ethically designed AI. She reminded us that co-creating tools with students, not just for them, is where real transformation happens,” he stated.
Tara Mandrekar, a presenter for the “Future Focus with Our Media: Exploring AI’s Impact on Education & Careers’ workshop, stated, “The biggest thing I wanted students or participants to walk away with is a better understanding of the fact that AI is going to be continuously impacting them in different ways.” She emphasized that this influence extends beyond the classroom, notably into job hunting and career development. She wanted participants to reflect on how they plan to navigate an AI-driven future.
As AI becomes a more significant part of lives, the “AI Expo: Empowering Minds” event helped participants understand what it means for the future, sparking conversation about its impact on education, careers, and security.
