University of Montana to host AI summit

The University of Montana will host the Montana AI Summit, a first-of-its-kind statewide conference on artificial intelligence and its future in Montana, from Tuesday through Wednesday, Sept. 1-2, in the University Center Ballroom. There also will be an optional workshop on Thursday, Sept. 3.

The Montana AI Summit is a free event bringing together university leaders, government officials, technology innovators and other individuals interested in how artificial intelligence is shaping Montana. Attendees can register for the conference online at https://mtsummit.ai/#schedule.

Designed for the AI curious and the skeptical alike, the summit will gather workers, business owners, educators and community members from across Montana to ask the questions that matter most: What is AI actually doing to jobs, industries and communities, and what should be done about it?

Day one of the conference, kicking off at 8:30 a.m., will focus on AI’s impact on Montana communities and businesses, including data centers, AI fluency and workforce impacts.

The second day will start at 9 a.m. and more broadly explore perspectives on AI in government and education, including a student panel on AI’s impact on learning and the future of work and a discussion of AI in K–12 education presented by Montana Digital Academy. Other topics will include data sovereignty, responsible AI and institutional AI readiness.

The optional third day will allow attendees to go deeper with hands-on workshops. Laptops are available for those who need one. This segment will take place starting at 9:15 a.m. in UM’s James E. Todd Building.

A full conference schedule is available on the Montana AI Summit website.

“Montana’s industries are already being shaped by AI, and the people who understand Montana's economy best are Montanans,” said Zach Rossmiller, chief information officer and associate vice president for Information Technology at UM. “Whether you’re a farmer in eastern Montana wondering what this means for your operation, a small business owner in Billings who’s already using these tools and wants to go further or a skeptic who isn’t convinced any of this applies to you yet, this summit is where that conversation happens.”

The summit will focus on the practical workforce and economic questions that matter to Montana industries. The event is designed for Montana’s workforce at every stage of their relationship with AI, from businesses just beginning to explore these tools to those already using them and looking to go deeper. No prior technical experience is required to attend.

Programming will include facilitated conversations, facilitated conversations and a hands-on workshop for attendees to work directly with AI tools relevant to their own field, guided by Montana practitioners who are already using artificial intelligence for various applications.

The summit’s organizing team and partner organizations are rooted in Montana business, technology and education communities, and the programming will reflect the industries, challenges and opportunities specific to this state. The Montana High Tech Business Alliance, one of the summit’s founding partners, has been a driving force in that effort.

“Montana’s technology and business community has been waiting for a gathering like this,” said Christina Henderson, executive director of the Montana High Tech Business Alliance. “The Montana AI Summit gives our members and the broader business community a place to move beyond the hype and get into the real questions about how AI changes the way we work, compete and grow here in Montana. We’re proud to be part of building it.”

The Montana AI Summit is developed in partnership with Montana High Tech Business Alliance, Craton Consulting, AccelerateMT, Blackfoot Communications, CubCloudAI and AIFluency.ai. UM Information Technology is the organizing institution.