The College of Communication & Information (CCI) is excited to spotlight CCI’s ThinkAI Association, a new FSU student organization designed to introduce students of all skill levels to AI.

Formerly known as the Group for Artificial Intelligence Navigation (GAIN), ThinkAI Association initially focused on AI development but has expanded its scope to include AI literacy, engagement, and learning.

“At the time, there wasn’t a lot of direction with the way AI was going, and we wanted a place to explore and play around with AI,” said CCI graduate student and ThinkAI Founder and President Orion Qualls.

Joining CCI in February 2025, ThinkAI maintains an extensive community reach in Tallahassee by visiting local senior centers, speaking at K-12 institutions, collaborating with other registered student organizations, and engaging in cross-campus partnerships.

ThinkAI maintains a focus on experimentation and welcomes students from all majors, skill levels, and backgrounds.

“The best way I’ve seen people get into AI is by playing around and seeing what tools are out there, seeing what works and what doesn’t, and if they want to, they can start playing with the code and see how AI actually works,” Qualls said.

ThinkAI is now casting an even wider net by prioritizing community outreach and diversifying its offerings. They plan to host various tailored workshops, competition activities, and increase general awareness across FSU.

“I think there’s a fear when a lot of people see ‘ThinkAI Association’ and think it’s more coding or development heavy, so they feel pushed away, but we’re trying to open it up more and get soaked into the minds of FSU students,” Qualls said.

Qualls also emphasized that ThinkAI Association values adaptability as an organization, given AI’s recent evolution and unpredictable future.

“Five years from now, AI is going to be completely different. I think that being adaptable and flexible will be part of our future, no matter which way we go. I think just having the bones down for our organization is what we’re trying to do in the long term,” Qualls said.