From Skeptic to Strategist: How AI is Reshaping Education, Work, and Life

Join Annika Hallquist, a Systems Engineering and Analytics master’s student at University of Wisconsin–Madison, for a dynamic, myth-busting look at the role of Artificial Intelligence in our world today. From once being reluctant to use AI tools, Annika now studies their impact across engineering, business, and society.
In this session, she takes you behind the headlines to explore what AI actually is, what it isn’t, and how it’s transforming everything from college coursework to careers.
Through personal stories, real-world examples, and powerful visuals, you will see how AI is changing the way we learn, think, and collaborate, especially for students entering a workforce shaped by automation and innovation.

BIO
Annika Hallquist is a master’s student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison studying Systems Engineering and Analytics with a focus on Artificial Intelligence. After completing her bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, she saw this as a pivotal opportunity to explore the growing role of AI in both education and the workforce. Through newly added coursework, she has been able to take PhD-level classes that have deepened her interest in the field, especially after previously being hesitant to use AI. She has a strong background in technology, having interned at KLA, a semiconductor process control company as an Applications Engineering Intern, and at Grainger as a Systems Intern in the Supply Chain department. Annika graduated with the highest honors and is always seeking new ways to learn and grow. She believes it is critical to understand AI early in one’s career, as it is transforming how people learn, how jobs are structured, and how individuals can create their own tools for growth and mentorship.
Whether you are curious, cautious, or excited about AI, this talk will leave you with a clearer understanding of the technology, practical ways to use it, and a few surprising reasons to embrace it as your newest learning partner.

This meeting will be via Zoom & YouTube. Please share our YouTube page with everyone interested in this topic: https://www.youtube.com/WashingtonApplePi