CentralAI launches to help students shape the future of work

Artificial intelligence is changing faster than many students can keep up with, and a new student organization at Central Michigan University wants to make sure CMU stays ahead of the curve. CentralAI, CMU’s newest registered student organization, was created to help students understand, apply, and question the fast-evolving role of AI in business and society.

“AI is rapidly changing the landscape of the professional world, and we wanted to make sure students can thrive in that new world,” said Nathan Young, a sophomore majoring in Information Systems from Gladstone, Mich., and president of CentralAI. “This is not a technology you can avoid, but it must be embraced and harnessed in the right ways.”

For Young, the group’s launch felt urgent. “The future started yesterday,” he said. “This semester felt like the right moment to bring forward-thinking, like-minded people together to learn from one another.”

A space where students learn and challenge AI’s role in business

CentralAI aims to help students build practical skills while encouraging curiosity, critical thinking, and imagination. Members explore how AI tools can streamline workflows, support decision-making, and spark new ideas across industries.

“Students should learn how to use AI for practical business applications, while simultaneously challenging the status quo and imagining new possibilities,” Young said.

The organization’s weekly structure reflects that blend of hands-on learning and big-picture exploration.

Weekly meetings designed for real learning

A typical CentralAI meeting features a mix of discussion, practice, and connection:

• This Week in AI

  Students break down new models, emerging use cases, industry shifts, and broader societal implications. The goal is to link global AI developments to the careers students are preparing for.

• Project development time

  Members apply what they learn to individual or team-based projects. Students experiment with tools and approaches that mirror current business practices.

• Guest speakers
  Professionals share how they use AI in their daily work and offer insight into how roles are changing. Students get a direct look at the future of work through people already navigating it.

Together, these elements help students build confidence and experience one meeting at a time.

A culture built on innovation and empowerment

Young hopes CentralAI becomes a welcoming environment where students learn from each other, take risks, and expand their thinking.

“A community of innovation and empowerment,” he said. “Our members learn from and inspire each other every week.”

His motivation for leading the organization is rooted in a desire to help CMU students stand out. “I wanted to do my part to ensure that CMU students could differentiate themselves from their peers using AI,” Young said. “I created CentralAI to inspire students to reimagine what is possible, in business and beyond.”

What’s next for CentralAI

The group is wrapping up its first semester with a social event and already preparing for a busy spring.

“We are planning some exciting things for next semester, more projects, speakers, and hopefully some new AI tech we can try out,” Young said.

CentralAI welcomes students from any major who are curious about AI or eager to build skills that will matter in every industry. For those looking to understand the tools shaping the future of work, the door is open.