🌴 Florida Is Booming. University of Florida AI Prepares the Workforce.
- NewBits Media
- 12 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Florida welcomed a record 34.4 million visitors this summer, underscoring the state’s role as a global hub for tourism, entertainment, and innovation. At the University of Florida, assistant provost and lecturer Nico Rose is showing how AI can help meet this demand—not just in theme parks and resorts, but across smart cities and service industries that define Florida’s future.
🎓 Meet the Educator
Rose leads courses designed to make students AI-literate and industry-ready, connecting academic concepts to Florida’s economic strengths. His focus is on responsible adoption, ensuring that graduates can use generative AI tools without losing the human touch that makes guest experiences memorable.
🧭 What Students Learn
AI literacy and rollout: practical skills for responsible adoption.
Smart cities and theme parks: using AR/VR and personalization to design better experiences.
Hands-on generative AI: experiments with UF’s NaviGator Chat and simple model building.
Ethics and security: pairing human oversight with automation.
🧪 From Class to Operations
The lessons quickly move from the classroom into real-world scenarios. Students apply AI to both front-of-house settings—personalized recommendations, immersive guest journeys—and back-of-house operations like smarter menus, scheduling, and supply chains. These skills are vital as Florida scales up to meet record demand while maintaining efficiency and hospitality.
💡 Why University of Florida AI Matters
The surge in tourism and growth across Florida’s industries raise expectations for seamless, personalized service. University of Florida AI programs are preparing a workforce that can bridge innovation and human-centered values, ensuring the state’s economy stays competitive and forward-looking.
📌 Three Takeaways
Florida’s demand is rising—personalization is the new baseline.
AI literacy is now a core job skill across industries.
Human-centered, ethical AI is key to sustaining loyalty and trust.
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