vectorfusionart / Depositphotos.com
South Dakota State University Extension and the South Dakota Water Resources Institute is hosting an artificial intelligence symposium to educate the public on modern AI infrastructure demands and the potential benefits of its use for rural residents.
The Good Neighbor AI Symposium, hosted by SDSU in partnership with the South Dakota Economic Development Professionals Association and the Center for AI Innovation and Emergent Technologies at SDSU, is from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. CST on Nov. 5, 2026, at McCrory Gardens in Brookings.
Registration is limited and available by visiting extension.sdstate.edu/events and searching “neighbor”. Those interested can register to attend in person or online. For in-person attendance, tickets are $100 per person, or $25 for students. Online attendance via Zoom is free.
Ryan Lefers, Griffith Endowed Chair in Agriculture and Water Resources, South Dakota Water Resources Institute Director & SDSU Extension Water Management Specialist, said AI is transitioning from a purely digital tool to one used in physical infrastructures, including in natural resources. That makes it a point of interest for rural residents and stakeholders.
“High-density AI workloads have historically required significant energy and water for cooling, which could compete with agricultural and municipal needs,” Lefers said. “However, this same infrastructure has the potential to become water-neutral and offers a generational opportunity to revitalize rural economies and increase the efficiency and resilience of agricultural systems.”
He said this symposium explores the dual nature of this technological expansion. The central theme focuses on transforming AI infrastructure from a resource consumer into a catalyst for regional resilience by responsibly deploying emerging AI technologies and infrastructure in rural settings.
Expert speakers and panelists will examine the water, energy and land footprint of localized data centers, while also highlighting how the computational power of these facilities could be harnessed to optimize energy and water use, increase agricultural productivity and improve the quality of life for rural residents.
“The importance of this event lies in its proactive approach,” Lefers said. “Rather than reacting to infrastructure development, through this symposium SDSU aspires to lead the conversation on how AI could be integrated into the Great Plains in a responsible and beneficial way.”
SDSU Extension news release
Comments