Extension Partnerships for Innovative Programming: A Community-based Training on Artificial Intelligence for Workforce Development

The AI Training Series was Washington County, Utah’s first community education offering on the topic of generative AI (GenAI). The training provided community members with an overview of the capabilities and advantages of GenAI and assisted them in making informed technology adoption decisions. Utah State University Extension partnered with Dixie Technical College and Zonos, a software company, to evaluate the effectiveness of the learning experience based on anticipated outcomes. Results showed the training was effective for disseminating information and advancing knowledge on the topic of GenAI. However, students’ intentions to adopt AI were lower than expected due to perceived barriers to using it effectively in their work.