SioC creates an inclusive space for open dialogue on the social impacts of computing, ensuring that all voices are heard and valued. On March 28, 2025, SioC members presented a panel at Hackfort in Boise.
Panel: AI and the Future of Work. This room was filled with concerned community members and students seeking perspectives on the impact of emerging computing technologies on career sectors and how this impact will affect students and the working community.
SioC actively collaborates with local businesses and community organizations to create programs that address the evolving needs of the workforce in a compute-centric world. These partnerships enhance educational opportunities and contribute to regional development. In collaboration with the School of Computing, School for the Digital Future, and College of Innovation and Design, and hosted by Hawley Troxell, the AI Scenario Planning workshop was a two‑hour, invitation‑only session that brought executives, academics, and policymakers together to “pressure‑test” four plausible futures for generative AI by mapping fast‑ vs. slow‑adoption dynamics in both industry and the workforce. Through quadrant‑based breakouts and a plenary debrief, participants identified risks, opportunities, and research priorities—ranging from skills gaps to regulatory hurdles—to inform Idaho’s business, education, and policy strategies for the next decade.
Ed Ferrier's Human and Machine Intelligence course featured a series of guest lectures by IT/AI industry partners and Boise State faculty. The lectures discussed real-world applications of current AI tools, the nature of intelligence, the future of AI technologies, and the challenges of integrating human and artificial intelligence. These lectures were open to the community.
Many SioC members are also active in a local AI and cybersecurity group, Unstoppables AI, and host an AI Brown Bag on campus. Read the Campus artificial intelligence group builds real life connections report from April 22, 2025 to learn more.