Northwestern Mutual and MSOE held the annual Girls + AI, an MKE Hour of Tech event on Dec. 6. Nearly 40 eighth grade female students from Notre Dame School of Milwaukee visited the We Energies STEM Center at MSOE to learn about artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies.  

Girls + AI provides an extended opportunity for the students to interact with representatives from Northwestern Mutual and MSOE around hands-on STEM subject matter. During the event, the students programmed robotic hands to follow commands from neural networks, learned about the 5 Big Ideas in AI, and learned about AI and data literacy.  

Program descriptions:  

AI with Neuromaker Hands – In this activity, students learned about neural networks (computing systems inspired by the neural networks that comprise human brains) by programming robotic hands. At the end of each session, the students played the popular “Rock, Paper, Scissors” game using their Neuromaker Hands.  

Big 5 Ideas in AI – Students learned about the 5 Big Ideas in AI and applied their newfound knowledge to examine these big ideas in play by training a neural network, building a machine learning dataset, and exploring bias in AI-centered systems. The 5 Big Ideas in AI include perception, representation and reasoning, learning, human-AI interaction, and societal impact.  

AI + Data Literacy – We can't maximize the positive impact of artificial intelligence without data literacy, or the ability to read, write and communicate with data in context. In this session, students learned about the value and impact of both AI and data literacy through a mix of work and life examples.  

Girls + AI is one of multiple opportunities led by a collaboration between MSOE’s K-12 STEM program and Northwestern Mutual’s hi, Tech program available to students during the 2022 Greater MKE Hour of Tech.  

About Hour of Tech
The 2022 Greater MKE Hour of Tech took place across southeastern Wisconsin Dec. 5-11 and is presented by the MKE Tech Hub Coalition. This regional week-long experience supports and expands the national Hour of Code movement during Computer Science Week. Local business, education and non-profit communities come together each year to advance early tech talent in the region.  

About Milwaukee School of Engineering
MSOE is the university of choice for those seeking an inclusive community of experiential learners driven to solve the complex challenges of today and tomorrow. The independent, non-profit university has about 2,800 students and was founded in 1903. MSOE offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering, business and nursing. Faculty are student-focused experts who bring real-world experience into the classroom. This approach to learning makes students ready now as well as prepared for the future. Longstanding partnerships with business and industry leaders enable students to learn alongside professional mentors and challenge them to go beyond what’s possible. MSOE graduates are leaders of character, responsible professionals, passionate learners and value creators.  

About Northwestern Mutual
Northwestern Mutual has been helping people and businesses achieve financial security for more than 160 years. Through a holistic planning approach, Northwestern Mutual combines the expertise of its financial professionals with a personalized digital experience and industry-leading products to help its clients plan for what's most important. With $308.8 billion in total assets, $31.1 billion in revenues, and $2 trillion worth of life insurance protection in force, Northwestern Mutual delivers financial security to more than 4.75 million people with life, disability income and long-term care insurance, annuities, and brokerage and advisory services. The company manages more than $200 billion of investments owned by its clients and held or managed through its wealth management and investment services businesses. Northwestern Mutual ranks 90 on the 2021 FORTUNE 500 and is recognized by FORTUNE® as one of the “World’s Most Admired” life insurance companies in 2021.  

Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (NM), Milwaukee, WI (life and disability insurance, annuities, and life insurance with long-term care benefits) and its subsidiaries. Subsidiaries include Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC (NMIS) (investment brokerage services), broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, member FINRA and SIPC; the Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company® (NMWMC) (investment advisory and services), federal savings bank; and Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company (NLTC) (long-term care insurance).