Cary Academy students capped off a semester-long, hands-on exploration of artificial intelligence—made possible through an exciting collaboration between our Center for Community Engagement and Duke University’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Department and Athena AI Institute for Edge Computing.

Under the guidance of Dr. Tingjun Chen and his team, students delved into embedded AI and the Internet of Things, experimenting with Arduino programming, VR headsets, and immersive Augmented and Extended Reality. Alongside these technical pursuits, they tackled the ethical dimensions of AI, examining the importance of thoughtful, responsible design.

The experience culminated at the Athena AI Summit, where students toured cutting-edge research labs, tested emerging technologies, and served as mentors to Lowe’s Grove middle schoolers, guiding them as they programmed robots through intricate mazes. The result? A powerful blend of curiosity, collaboration, and a deeper appreciation for both the potential and responsibility of AI in the real world.