Talking About Tech: AI in Practice

Illustration AI-generated with Google Gemini. May or may not resemble actual generative AI.

Bring your tech questions and answers to our monthly series for technology help. Fourth Saturdays from 10:30 to noon at Brooks Memorial Library.

This month’s spotlight topic: AI in Practice—Transform Your Life!

Artificial Intelligence is completely dominating the news right now, and much of it is pretty alarming. We read about power-hungry data centers straining the power grid, massive corporate spending sprees, and tech leaders warning that AI could slip out of human control or even threaten humanity. It can feel overwhelming, extractive, and a little bit scary. But behind all the massive global headlines, what does AI actually do on a human scale?

This month, we are stepping away from the global anxieties to look at how AI can be a surprisingly helpful tool in our everyday lives. We are excited to welcome Bob Jude Ferrante, a practicing AI product designer, to lead a brief, beginner-friendly introduction to AI in the modern age.

While the news focuses on the macro-impacts, Bob will focus on the micro: cutting through the jargon to explain what terms like “transformers” and “LLMs” actually mean, how these systems work under the hood, and how you can write prompts to make them do real, repeatable work for you in the background. Whether you want to learn how to automate daily tasks, understand the technology shaping our world, or just bring your skeptical questions, join us for an open conversation.

This month’s discussion leader, Bob Jude Ferrante, is a writer, artist, musician and composer. For the past 35 years, he’s worked as a Product Manager and architect for software companies. Find out more about Bob at http://bobjudeferrante.com.

What is Talking About Tech?

It’s what you want to make it!  The loose structure is an interactive gathering a bit like a book club crossed with a crafting group, with a touch of a drop-in bike repair clinic.  Each session will begin with a guided discussion around a tech topic of interest. Then we’ll go where the conversation takes us. Maybe we’ll flow to related topics, or perhaps someone will have a question that takes us in an entirely different direction.  We’ll try to leave time for peer support, breaking into small groups or one-on-one sessions where we can help each other through the daily frustrations of our increasingly digital lives.  Bring your phone, tablet, or laptop, and something that’s been stumping you!

Written in collaboration with Gemini AI.