This week we started delivering the first of two workshops introducing the basics of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The sessions are designed to help people understand what AI is, how it works, and how it is already part of everyday digital life.
For many people, AI can feel like something futuristic or complicated. So we began the session by asking a simple question: What do you already know about AI?
A few familiar examples quickly came up. Some people mentioned using voice assistants like Alexa or Siri, but most felt they didn’t really know much about AI beyond that. What followed was an interesting conversation about how AI is actually all around us, often working quietly in the background of the technology we already use.
Our first learning guide explains that AI works by analysing large amounts of information, spotting patterns, and improving over time. Artificial Intelligence Part 1 From recommending videos on social media to suggesting music based on what you’ve listened to before, AI is often helping to shape our online experiences.
Today’s workshop included 13 participants and quickly became a lively discussion about the different ways AI can be used.
To demonstrate generative AI, we used ChatGPT to create an itinerary for a day out in Bruges, and then tried the same thing for Stockport. It was a simple way to show how AI can help with tasks such as planning trips, drafting letters or generating ideas.
At one point, Tony asked whether AI could edit photos. So we decided to test it. We improved a picture of a cat and then asked the AI to remove blankets and cushions from the sofa in the background. Seeing the results in real time helped bring the technology to life and sparked plenty of curiosity.
One of the most valuable parts of the session was discussing how AI actually learns and why it doesn’t always get things right. AI doesn’t “think” like a person. Instead, it learns patterns from huge amounts of data and predicts what the most likely answer might be. Because of this, it’s important to question the responses it gives and check information where accuracy matters.
This sparked a lot of conversation about the importance of challenging AI responses and asking better questions to get more useful answers. In fact, the discussion was so engaging that we didn’t get through all of the planned activities, but that felt like a positive sign. The session became less about following slides and more about exploring ideas together, so we have lots more to pick up on in session 2 next week.
A key reflection from the workshop was that many people who are still building confidence with digital technology often don’t see themselves as AI users. But the reality is that many of us are already interacting with AI every day, through voice assistants, recommendation systems, photo tools, and many of the apps we use online.
Sometimes it’s simply about recognising these tools and discovering how they might make certain tasks easier. For some people that could be using AI to help draft a letter or tailor a CV. For others it might be planning a trip, learning something new, or exploring creative ideas.
This workshop was the first of two sessions introducing AI. In the next session, we’ll build on what participants have learned so far, exploring the opportunities and the challenges that come with using AI tools.
The most encouraging part of the session was seeing curiosity grow as the discussion developed. Once people realise they may already be using AI, the conversation quickly shifts from uncertainty to possibility.
And that’s exactly where learning begins.