Artificial intelligence is becoming an increasingly important part of modern technology but understanding how it works and how to use it effectively is just as important as having access to AI-powered tools. PC Express, together with NVIDIA, launched NVIDIA AI Ready Campus, an initiative that brings seminars and hands-on learning opportunities to students through discussions on local AI, AI advancements, emerging applications, and hardware capable of supporting AI workloads.
The program began its campus tour at National University–Clark, bringing together speakers from PC Express, NVIDIA, Kingston, and the AI community to introduce students to different aspects of the evolving AI landscape. Through a series of presentations and workshops, attendees explored how AI works, how its applications continue to develop, and what computing technologies are needed to support its growing range of uses.
Understanding Local AI and the Future of Computing
The event opened with Mr. Jesse Tan of PC Express, who introduced students to the concept of local AI. Unlike AI services that rely on remote cloud servers to process requests, local AI runs models directly on a user's own computer or device, depending on the model and hardware requirements.
Understanding this distinction helps students recognize that AI is not limited to applications accessed through a browser or an online service. With suitable hardware and software, users can run certain AI models locally, potentially gaining greater control over their data and the ability to perform supported tasks without an internet connection.
By introducing local AI in an educational setting, the session encouraged students to look beyond simply using AI tools and begin understanding the technology, computing resources, and practical considerations behind them.
Next, Mr. Arnold Padilla of NVIDIA discussed the company's AI roadmap and development history, tracing the growing role of AI in computing. The presentation covered the progression from using AI to enhance gaming graphics to developing hardware capable of supporting broader AI workloads, including local AI applications.
This evolution highlights how technologies developed to improve one area of computing can help enable advancements in others. As AI expands into education, productivity, content creation, and software development, understanding the relationship between AI software and the hardware that powers it becomes increasingly valuable for students preparing for technology-driven careers.
Exploring Agentic AI and the Hardware Behind AI Workloads
Beyond understanding AI itself, the program also introduced students to agentic AI, with Mr. Jay Ortiz, an AI Generalist, presenting a session on what it is and how it can be used.
Agentic AI refers to AI systems designed to work toward objectives by carrying out tasks, making decisions within defined parameters, and interacting with tools or other systems. Depending on their design, these systems can help coordinate multistep workflows rather than simply responding to individual prompts.
Introducing students to agentic AI provided another perspective on how technology is evolving. As AI applications expand beyond generating text and images, learning how systems can assist with more complex tasks can help students better understand the possibilities and considerations involved in applying AI to real-world problems.
The hardware supporting these applications was another important part of the discussion. Mr. Denney Driz of Kingston presented storage solutions suited to the demands of modern computing, emphasizing the importance of speed and hardware durability.
Storage is a key component of an AI-capable system, particularly when working with large datasets, software environments, models, and project files. While AI performance depends on several components—including the processor, graphics processing unit, memory, and storage—reliable storage helps support efficient data access and dependable everyday operation. For students exploring AI development, understanding these hardware considerations provides a more complete picture of what goes into building a capable system.
From Vibe Coding to Game Development: Putting AI Into Practice
Moving from hardware to software development, Mr. Jesse Tan returned to the stage to discuss vibe coding and its practical applications. During the session, he showcased programs he had developed using AI-assisted coding workflows, demonstrating how AI tools can help turn ideas into functional software.
Vibe coding generally involves using natural-language prompts and AI-powered tools to generate, modify, and refine code. Rather than writing every line manually, developers can describe the functionality they want and work with AI to build and improve an application. However, reviewing generated code, testing functionality, and checking for errors remain important parts of the development process.
By presenting programs he had created through these methods, Mr. Tan demonstrated how AI can serve as a practical tool for people exploring software development. For students, this offers an introduction to a more accessible way of experimenting with programming, prototyping ideas, and creating applications—even as they continue to develop their technical skills.
The discussion also led into the creative side of AI-assisted development through the event's final speaker, Matthew Labrador, a self-taught game developer. His presentation explored how AI contributed to the development of his game, TUMP, inspired by tumbang preso, a traditional Filipino outdoor game.
The project offered a locally relevant example of how AI can support creative work and game development. By drawing inspiration from a familiar Filipino childhood game, Tump connects digital entertainment with a traditional form of play while illustrating how developers can explore new ideas through modern development tools.
Labrador's experience highlighted another potential application of AI: supporting individual creators who want to bring their ideas to life. For aspiring game developers and students interested in digital creativity, the project demonstrated how AI-assisted workflows can become part of the development process, helping creators explore concepts and work toward turning them into playable experiences.
Together, the sessions on vibe coding and AI-assisted game development extended the event's message beyond understanding AI technology. They showed how students can begin exploring its practical applications, whether by developing software, experimenting with new workflows, or creating games inspired by their own interests and experiences.
Putting Knowledge Into Practice Through PC Building
To complement the technical discussions, Mr. Tan led a PC-building seminar that introduced students to the fundamentals of assembling their own desktop computers. The session connected the event's discussions about AI-capable hardware with the practical process of putting a computer system together.
As part of the activity, Mr. Tan invited a participant from the audience to join him onstage and assemble a PC while he continued his presentation. The challenge added a hands-on element to the session, allowing attendees to follow the assembly process as the participant worked to complete the build.
The participant who finished assembling the PC before Mr. Tan concluded his presentation would take home a liquid cooler as a prize. Beyond the competitive element, the activity demonstrated how educational sessions can combine technical explanations with interactive experiences to make hardware concepts more approachable.
For students interested in AI, gaming, or computer engineering, learning about PC assembly can also provide useful context for understanding how individual components work together. It offers a practical starting point for exploring system configurations and the hardware requirements of different applications, including AI workloads.
Building AI Awareness on School Campuses
The launch of NVIDIA AI Ready Campus at National University–Clark reflects the value of introducing students to AI through a combination of technical education, industry perspectives, and practical demonstrations. Rather than focusing solely on the tools users interact with, the program explored the broader AI ecosystem, from local model execution and agentic systems to AI-assisted coding, game development, and the hardware that supports these applications.
This approach is particularly relevant for students preparing to enter an increasingly technology-driven environment. Developing AI awareness involves more than learning how to write prompts or use AI-powered applications. It also means understanding how these systems operate, recognizing their practical requirements and limitations, and identifying opportunities to apply them responsibly in academic, professional, and creative settings.
Through its collaboration with NVIDIA and participating technology partners, PC Express is helping bring these conversations into educational spaces where students can explore emerging technologies and learn directly from industry representatives. The combination of seminars, demonstrations, and interactive activities gives students multiple ways to engage in the subject, whether they are interested in AI applications, hardware, software development, or broader technology careers.
As artificial intelligence continues to evolve, initiatives such as NVIDIA AI Ready Campus can help bridge the gap between simply using AI and understanding how it works. By bringing AI awareness, technical knowledge, and practical learning opportunities to school campuses, PC Express and its partners are contributing to a learning environment where the next generation can better understand and explore the possibilities of the technologies shaping the future.