In the last newsletter, I promised you a busy and exciting summer, and AI4OPT has certainly delivered! Our in-person Seth Bonder high school camps in Georgia and California provided students with hands-on experiences in Python programming, deep learning, generative AI, agentic AI and power grid simulation. At the same time, AI4OPT continues to work closely with high school teachers to develop curricula and provide the support they need to bring AI education into their classrooms.

AI4OPT’s educational efforts extend well beyond K-12 programs. This summer, we celebrated the fifth anniversary of our Faculty Training Program with a two-day conference that brought together current and former participants to share experiences, exchange ideas and showcase their successes. It was amazing to see all they have accomplished, and none of these initiatives would have been possible without the leadership and dedication of Charles Pierre and Michael Butros, both of whom are featured in this newsletter.

The excitement surrounding AI and its potential was also on full display in Panama. I was invited to attend the launch of the country’s

first National AI Strategy, which I helped develop. The event was attended by the president of Panama, the U.S. ambassador and thousands of participants online and in person. AI4OPT is not only about advancing research. Helping people understand AI and providing them with the tools, education and strategies needed to put it to use is also a core part of our mission as an institute.

As we head into a new academic year, there are many exciting research opportunities ahead. AI4OPT’s Alper Atamtürk is serving as general co-chair of the INFORMS Annual Meeting 2026, one of the largest optimization conferences in the world. And just a couple of weeks ago, the National Science Foundation announced a $400 million investment in a new national network of AI-programmable cloud laboratories. I am proud to share that Georgia Tech will lead one of these laboratories, creating exciting new opportunities for AI4OPT researchers to apply AI and optimization to automated scientific workflows.

Meet Charles B. Pierre, an AI4OPT co-principal investigator and principal investigator for the ExpandAI AIHUB@CAU initiative at Clark Atlanta University. As a professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences, Pierre is helping expand access to artificial intelligence education by preparing faculty, developing new academic programs, and strengthening AI research opportunities at partner institutions. Through his work with AI4OPT's Faculty Training Program and ExpandAI, Pierre is helping equip educators with the skills and resources needed to bring AI and data science education to students across the country.

For Pierre, AI4OPT's Faculty Training Program is about creating a ripple effect. The program equips faculty from colleges and universities across North and South America with advanced training in artificial intelligence, machine learning, deep learning, computer vision, and generative AI. Participants complete the equivalent of approximately 18 graduate credit hours in analytics, giving them the knowledge and confidence to launch AI and data science programs at their own institutions.

"Our goal is to prepare faculty with the knowledge and tools they need to build strong AI programs for their students," Pierre said. "As these educators return to their campuses, they multiply the impact by expanding AI education far beyond a single institution."

Pierre, presenting to the CAU Board of Trustees about the university's collaboration with AI4OPT through Faculty Training Program and ExpandAI initiatives

Pierre also leads the NSF ExpandAI AIHUB@CAU initiative, which has helped establish a new Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence degree at Clark Atlanta University. The program has completed the university approval process and is currently awaiting accreditation.

His recent accomplishments include presenting AI4OPT's work to members of Congress and the National Science Foundation in Washington, D.C., alongside AI4OPT leadership. He was also named Clark Atlanta University's Outstanding Researcher and was featured in an INFORMS interview highlighting his work.

Pierre recognized with a plaque for his contributions to AI4OPT

Beyond education, Pierre's research focuses on applying AI and computer vision to autonomous systems, including drones and rovers. He believes AI's greatest promise lies in its ability to drive innovation across industries.

"AI is still a young discipline," Pierre said. "As computing power continues to grow, the possibilities for innovation are virtually limitless."

Looking back on his work with AI4OPT, Pierre says the institute's collaborative culture has been one of the most rewarding parts of his experience. He credits the AI4OPT team with building a strong foundation for expanding AI education and research while creating new opportunities for students, faculty, and partner institutions.

Meet Michael Butros, AI4OPT's director of education at Georgia Tech. Michael leads the institute's education and outreach efforts, connecting students, teachers and future AI leaders with opportunities to explore artificial intelligence and optimization.

He oversees AI4OPT's K-12 summer camps, visits schools to introduce students to AI research and works with educators to develop a growing collection of AI resources for K-12 classrooms. He also serves as AI4OPT's liaison for Partnership in Innovation interns at Georgia Tech, leads the High School Teacher Training Cohort, coordinates the Faculty Training Program Conference and supports the institute's ExpandAI partnerships with Clark Atlanta University and The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

Participants in the AI4OPT Faculty Training Cohort, 2022-24

Working at AI4OPT and Georgia Tech has been one of the most rewarding experiences of Michael Butros' career. As AI4OPT's Director of Education, he helps lead programs that introduce students, educators, and future researchers to artificial intelligence through hands-on learning and professional development.

"What makes this work so meaningful is seeing the long-term impact," Michael said. "Students who attend our camps go on to internships, teachers who participate in our training programs bring AI education back to their schools, and our ExpandAI partnerships are helping institutions build new AI degree programs and research opportunities."

Michael works closely with faculty, researchers, engineers, and graduate students across the institute, a collaborative environment that has also inspired his own academic journey. Through his involvement with AI4OPT's Faculty Training Program, he decided to enroll in Georgia Tech's Online Master of Science in Analytics program and is now completing his seventh course.

Faculty gather for the AI4OPT Faculty Training Program Conference and closing ceremony, June 17-18, 2026

This year has brought several major milestones for AI4OPT's education programs. The institute expanded its popular Seth Bonder Camps with three new offerings: Deep Learning, Generative and Agentic AI, and Gaming for Power Grids. AI4OPT also launched a High School Internship Program, a High School Teacher Training Cohort, and hosted its first Faculty Training Program Conference. In recognition of these efforts, the institute's management team received Georgia Tech's Excellence Award.

For Michael, the greatest reward comes from seeing students discover a passion for AI. Whether it's watching campers present their final projects to their families or hearing from teachers who have launched new AI and data science certificates, minors, and degree programs after participating in AI4OPT's Faculty Training Program, he sees firsthand how education creates lasting impact.

Looking ahead, Michael hopes to expand the Seth Bonder Camps to reach even more students across Georgia and beyond, grow internship opportunities for undergraduates, and collaborate with Faculty Training Program partners to build a shared AI resource repository for higher education institutions. He is also excited by the future of AI and its growing applications across industries, where research and education continue to drive real-world innovation.

Belgium to Georgia Tech: Pascal Van Hentenryck’s Journey, AI and Optimization

How PACE Helped Bring NVIDIA H200 GPUs to the Seth Bonder Camps

AI4OPT Research Showcased at PSERC Industrial Advisory Board Meeting

AI4OPT Researchers Featured in New AIVO Podcast Series Exploring the Future of Beneficial AI

AI4OPT Summer 2026 Camps Introduce Students to the Future of AI and Data Science

AI4OPT Managing Director Kevin Dalmeijer Highlights AI Research at International Conferences

AI4OPT welcomes Gretchen Johnson, our new AI Comms Officer!

Gretchen joins the team with a strong background in communications, most recently serving as a Staff Writer for the NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots in Columbus, Ohio, where she led internal and external communications efforts focused on supporting pilots and advancing their careers.

Returning to Atlanta, she brings valuable storytelling experience, creativity, and a passion for connecting people through communications. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, exploring new crafts, and spending time outdoors with her husband and senior dog on local hiking trails.

Panama Launches National AI Strategy with Support from AI4OPT Leadership and Georgia Tech

Panama is taking significant steps to strengthen its position as a regional leader in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, with a focus on responsible AI adoption, innovation and inclusive economic growth.

On July 30, 2026, Panama’s National Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation (SENACYT) marked a major milestone in the country’s efforts to advance its national AI ecosystem and expand its technological capabilities. The initiative reflects Panama’s broader vision to leverage AI and other emerging technologies to support economic development and strengthen its digital future.

The development of Panama’s national AI efforts was supported by Georgia Tech’s AI initiatives and AI4OPT leadership, including Pascal Van Hentenryck, director of the NSF AI Institute for Advances in Optimization (AI4OPT), A. Russell Chandler III Chair and professor in Georgia Tech’s H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering.

Through its collaboration with SENACYT, AI4OPT contributed expertise in artificial intelligence and optimization to support Panama’s efforts to build a responsible, innovation-driven AI ecosystem.

SAVE THE DATE | Monday, September 28, 2026 

AI Symposium Programming

Time: 9:45 a.m. – Noon
Location: Exhibition Hall - Centennial Room (sign-in begins at 9:00 a.m. in the second-floor lobby of the Exhibition Hall)

The Tech AI Symposium will feature panel discussions, presentations, and conversations exploring applied artificial intelligence, industry collaboration, emerging technologies, and the future of the AI workforce. The program is designed to bring together students, researchers, faculty, industry leaders, and partners to share insights, foster connections, and highlight opportunities for collaboration.

Student Poster Session

Time: 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Location: Exhibition Hall - Lobby

The Student Poster Session will showcase innovative student research and applied AI projects from across Georgia Tech. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage directly with student researchers, learn about emerging work in artificial intelligence, and discuss real-world applications and future research directions.

AI Career Fair

Interested in connecting with employers, exploring internships and career opportunities, or recruiting Georgia Tech AI talent? The AI Career Fair will run concurrently with symposium programming, creating opportunities for students, alumni, employers, startups, and industry partners to network, discover career opportunities, and build meaningful connections throughout the day.

Confirmed employers include Appian, Aprio, Cisco Systems, Honeywell, Insight Global, Lucasys Inc., SAP, and The Vanguard Group, with additional organizations to be announced as the event approaches.

Summit for AI Institutes Leadership (SAIL) 2026

November 2–4, 2026, San Diego, CA

2026 INFORMS Annual Meeting

November 1 - 4, 2026, San Francisco, CA

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