STC puts AI to work across 55 courses — from construction sites to car repair

Artificial intelligence at South Texas College is moving beyond computer labs and into some unexpected places — construction sites, auto repair shops, police training and even cosmetology.

The college’s Division of Business, Public Safety and Technology now has 33 faculty members incorporating artificial intelligence into 55 courses across 15 departments, part of a push to prepare students for workplaces where the technology is increasingly becoming another tool of the trade.

But the approach differs considerably depending on the career.

An automotive student might use the technology to diagnose a vehicle’s driver-assistance system. A construction management student could use it to schedule workers and materials. Architecture students can turn early sketches into realistic models, while law enforcement instructors are using AI to help students work through complicated legal concepts.