IOWA AI RESOURCES

Learn. Connect.
Explore AI in Iowa.

Practical places to learn, teach, and use AI. Explore Iowa programs and support, plus trusted guidance for using AI responsibly.

Directory baseline reviewed September 28, 2026. Selected October 29 updates: DMACC courses, ISU community-leader workshop and FTC guidance link. Other entries retain their individual source dates.

Classes & everyday skills

Kirkwood Community College

Kirkwood’s listed October 17 and 24 AI for Small Business Marketing dates have passed. AI Made Simple remains listed for December 17 in Hiawatha ($39). Check the registration page for the exact time, location and available seats.

Public continuing education · Paid registration required. Earlier September 28 and October 6–7 dates have passed. All dates are in 2026.

Browse Kirkwood classes

DMACC Continuing Education

DMACC offers online AI ChatGPT, AI Fundamentals, and Advanced AI Planning & Strategy certificates through UGOTCLASS; courses can also be taken individually. A separate Intel-based introductory course is online with some virtual meetings, takes eight weeks or less, and lists no prerequisites.

Paid courses · Registration required; check fees, dates, and prerequisites.

Explore DMACC AI courses

Today’s AI

An AI tools directory with demonstrations and learning examples, created by Iowa State professor Wei Le and graduate students. Browse by task, then check the original product’s details.

Public directory · Individual tools may have fees or account requirements.

Browse tools and examples Read about the Iowa team

Business & workplace

CIRAS at Iowa State

How CIRAS and university partners are coordinating AI literacy, fluency, and training for Iowa businesses.

Background reading · July 2026 report on training efforts.

Read the training overview

Kirkwood Community College

Build Your Own AI Work Assistant

The October 13, 2026 date for this hands-on workshop with Bill Schmarzo has passed. The catalog described an 8 a.m.–noon session at Kirkwood’s Cedar Rapids main campus; a repeat date was not verified.

Past workshop listing · The advertised fee was $399.

View workshop listing

Iowa SBDC

Confidential business counseling for Iowa entrepreneurs and small business owners, with recorded webinars and other business resources.

No-cost counseling · General business support for Iowa entrepreneurs.

Explore SBDC business support

AI for educators

Iowa State University

Critical AI in Education Pathways

Build AI literacy for teaching, assessment, and responsible classroom practice. Designed for educators, instructional coaches, and school leaders; no technical background is required.

Online, self-paced · About 20–25 hours · Paid registration.

The registration page lists $400. Successful participants may request a certificate for one Iowa licensure renewal credit.

Explore the educator course Check fee & registration

School Administrators of Iowa

Teacher Evaluation Partner workshop

The listed September 30 and October 5, 13, and 15, 2026 sessions for Iowa school leaders are now past. The organizer’s page remains a reference to this training; a new session or recording was not verified.

Past free workshop listing · Check SAI’s calendar for future dates.

View SAI’s workshop

Professional connections

Technology Association of Iowa

TAI’s AI Roundtable connects members who build, apply, support, and teach AI. Discussions cover business uses, technical questions, and lessons learned.

TAI members · Quarterly, hybrid format.

The linked page is a past event listing describing the recurring program. Check TAI for current dates and participation details.

Explore the AI Roundtable

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach

AI Basics for Community Leaders

Iowa State lists a virtual workshop for November 19, 2026, 9 a.m.–noon. It introduces practical and ethical AI use for local government, nonprofit, library and school leaders; no technical experience is required. The October 20 date has passed.

Virtual workshop · Confirm the current fee, registration deadline and available seats with the organizer.

View workshop details

Technology Association of Iowa

Iowa Digital Infrastructure Summit

TAI’s September 29, 2026 summit agenda in Des Moines covered workforce, energy and a planned presentation of early Iowa AI Business Survey findings. The scheduled date has passed; the agenda is retained as a reference.

Past scheduled date · Organizer’s agenda, not a final survey report.

View the summit agenda

Iowa League of Cities

AI and data-center decisions for local leaders

The September 24, 2026 conference schedule included sessions on data-center development, AI in local government, and moving from prompts to policy. These dates have passed; the schedule remains useful as a record of topics and presenters.

Past conference · Follow the organizer for any posted materials or future events.

View the conference schedule

University of Iowa

AI and the Environment

The university calendar listed this UI Debate Team panel for October 8, 2026, 7–8 p.m., at Biology Building East in Iowa City. That date has passed; see the university calendar for later AI events.

Past scheduled campus event · Listing retained for reference; the calendar alone does not confirm the event occurred.

View Iowa’s AI events

Use AI responsibly.

National guidance for Iowa households, businesses, and organizations.

Federal Trade Commission

Recognize AI impersonation scams

Learn how scammers imitate a family member’s voice and how to verify an apparent emergency before responding.

Free public guide · Everyday readers and families.

Read the FTC guidance

NIST AI Risk Management Playbook

Evaluate AI risks in an organization

Voluntary suggestions for governing, mapping, measuring, and managing AI risks. Organizations can select relevant actions; NIST does not present the Playbook as a mandatory checklist.

Free public reference · Advanced guidance for organizations.

NIST is revising the framework and plans to update the Playbook afterward.

Explore the NIST Playbook

IOWA RESEARCH

AI research in Iowa.

University research & programs

AI Institute for Resilient Agriculture

Explore Iowa State research on crop resilience and agricultural AI education. AIIRA studies “digital twins”: computer models of plants and fields that help researchers understand crop growth.

Ames · Public research overview.

Explore AIIRA’s research

Research preprint

AI and Iowa’s local-government agreements

Researchers test AI methods on Iowa’s 28E agreement archive. Read our summary for the scope and limits of the work.

September 16, 2026 preprint · Research, not an adopted government service.

Read the research summary