Jared Briggs created an AI tool from scratch for the Office of Communications and Marketing
Jared Briggs has always been a builder, but not in the way you might think. Rather than putting together Legos or constructing a shed, Briggs has found his niche building virtual models.
“I was always really into building models and data, even when I was young,” he said.
Combine that love with his interest in AI and it’s no surprise that the sci-fi movie genre and Terminator series are among his favorites. While those films show the dark side of automation, Briggs is enthralled by the transformational prospects of artificial intelligence.
“I’ve always wanted to build something that thinks for itself and makes its own decisions,” he said. “It’s so cool that we’re at a point in society where we actually have the tools to do things like that.”
Despite that passion, Briggs arrived at the Daniels College of Business as a transfer student in 2022 uncertain of what was next. He tried marketing, accounting and finance courses, while continuing to build models on the side. Professors began to take notice of his work and with their encouragement, Briggs made the switch to business information and analytics.
He flourished in that track, using it as a springboard into contract consulting positions at both Brunswick Boat Group and Claritas. In each role, he used analytics tools and automation to translate large swaths of data into actionable insights. So, when the Office of Communications and Marketing (OCM) at Daniels approached him earlier this year with another project, Briggs put his virtual hard hat on and got to work.
The group wanted to trial an AI marketing assistant that could automate tasks and improve processes across the six-person team. Briggs came recommended from former Daniels professor Leo Dixon, who noted his tireless work and ability to complete challenging tasks.
As he does with all his builds, Briggs first took time to understand the team’s needs, researching how he could address them and ranking them by viability.
“I’m always trying to paint a picture where the client is feeling satisfied, but it’s also something that’s possible and deliverable. That’s a difficult thing to balance and it’s why I start with those client requirements,” he said.
This summer, Briggs built created an AI tool from scratch that met the OCM team’s needs. The AI agent is named Wally after the Pixar robot film, a recommendation from Briggs to make it feel like a member of the team. It has five specific tools that improve the efficiency of its human counterparts. It can shorten submission copy for internal newsletters, identify an improper use of the College’s logo, draft social media captions and more.
Briggs is set to graduate in June 2025 and hopes to continue building wherever his career takes him. His dream job marries his strong technical background with solutions to his own personal medical challenges.
“I would love to be a data scientist in the biomedical field,” he said.
While at Daniels, Briggs was diagnosed with colitis. He didn’t have much energy and spent most of his time inside, unable to travel and take part in clubs as he previously had. This forced him to reevaluate his passions, sparking a new desire to enact positive change for those dealing with colitis.
“In a lot of ways, I’m thankful for that happening,” he said of his health challenges, “because it allowed me to figure out that I loved AI and loved building things.”
Now, he wants to put those skills to use, aiding others going through similar medical struggles.
“I want to help be part of the cure for what I have,” he said. “There’s a lot to be done with health care, and it’s such a cool field, because not only do you have to build some of the coolest models, but you also get to help a lot of people.”