Microsoft Executive, UM-Dearborn Cybersecurity Associate Dean, Flint STRIVE, Automation Workz, and Digital Voices Unite to Break Down the Facts Behind the AI Infrastructure Boom.
FLINT, MICHIGAN — October 20, 2026 — As massive artificial intelligence data center developments accelerate across Michigan, everyday residents and workers in Flint are demanding answers to critical questions: What will these multi-gigawatt facilities demand from our electrical grid and water systems? Who actually gets the jobs? And what safeguards protect our community?
On Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 12:00 PM (Noon), AI Data Center Education™—presented with the involvement of United AI Academy and Global Data Center Tracker—will host an independent community educational forum at the Regional Technical Center at Mott Community College (1401 E. Court St., Flint, MI).
The forum operates under one foundational standard: Education Before Opinion. This is not a pro-data center or anti-data center event. The initiative provides transparent, data-backed literacy so residents can examine the facts and reach their own conclusions before major public policy and development decisions are made.
CONFIRMED PRESENTERS & SPEAKERS
The event brings together leading voices from hyperscale cloud computing, higher education, local workforce agencies, and digital leaders:
- Jim Floyd — Director, Cloud & AI, Microsoft: Providing direct industry perspective on hyperscale computing clusters, energy efficiency innovations, closed-loop cooling technologies, and enterprise cloud operations.
- Prof. Hafiz Malik — Associate Dean & Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Michigan – Dearborn: Addressing critical infrastructure defense, cyber-physical system resilience, network security, and multimedia forensics.
- Ida Byrd-Hill — CEO, Automation Workz: Breaking down pathways into the tech economy, digital upskilling, and credentialing pipelines that allow local talent to enter high-wage tech careers without four-year degree debt.
- Marvin Smoot — Program Director, Flint STRIVE: Grounding the conversation in local employment realities, essential employability skills, and preparing Flint job seekers for regional career opportunities.
- Paige Locke — Speaker & Emerging Digital Voice: Bringing a frontline perspective on navigating artificial intelligence in workforce transition, skills training, and digital adoption.
CORE ISSUES ON THE AGENDA
- Power Grid Demands & Utility Costs: How data centers draw electricity, impacts on grid capacity, and protecting residential ratepayers.
- Water Usage & Environmental Safeguards: Evaporative cooling vs. closed-loop systems, municipal water capacity, and watershed protections.
- Jobs & Workforce Reality: Differentiating short-term union construction trades from permanent long-term operational and engineering roles.
- Community Accountability & Transparency: Municipal zoning, legal standards, and protections local leaders should demand before supporting project proposals.
EVENT DETAILS
- WHAT: AI Data Center Education™ — The Facts. The Impact. The Opportunities. The Safeguards.
- WHEN: Saturday, October 24, 2026 | 12:00 PM EDT (Speaker media interviews begin at 11:15 AM; doors open at 11:30 AM)
- WHERE: Regional Technical Center, Mott Community College (1401 E. Court Street, Flint, MI 48503)
- FORMAT: 1-Hour Presentation + 30-Minute Community Q&A
- ADMISSION: Free and open to the public
- REGISTRATION & INFO: aidatacentereducation.com
(Note: This educational event is neither endorsed nor sponsored by Mott Community College.)
