AI Essentials: History, Ethics & Everyday Tools
Class | FULL (Membership Required)
This four-session workshop provides a practical introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) for nontechnical learners, covering its history, real-world applications and ethical considerations. Participants will explore AI’s evolution, gain hands-on experience with accessible AI tools and engage in discussions about the societal impacts of AI.
Session 1: The Evolution of AI
- Overview of AI’s history, from early computing to modern machine learning.
- Understanding key AI concepts: automation, algorithms & data-driven decision-making.
- Introduction to AI’s role in business, education and creative industries
Session 2: The Ethics of AI
- Examining bias in AI and its implications.
- Ethical concerns: privacy, misinformation and job automation.
- AI regulation and responsible AI use.
- Discussion on balancing innovation with ethical responsibility.
Session 3: AI in Everyday Life
- Hands-on exploration of user-friendly AI tools, including:
- ChatGPT – AI-powered chatbot for writing and research.
- DALL·E – AI-generated image creation.
- Grammarly – AI-driven writing assistance.
- Google Lens – AI-powered visual recognition.
- Interactive exercises: using AI tools for productivity and creativity.
- Discussion of the future of AI and how to stay informed about emerging technologies.
Kate Lowrie
Kate Lowrie holds a B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Purdue University. While working on her Ph.D., she moved to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), where she completed research and coursework. It was at UIUC that she met her husband, Matt. After graduating, Kate joined Digital Equipment Corporation and relocated to Massachusetts. She later worked at Kronos and Trilogy Consulting before transitioning to academia as a faculty member and director of the computer science department at Boston College. Originally from a Detroit suburb, Kate moved to the Boston area in 1988. In 2003, she and Matt bought a vacation home in Sunapee, where they became full-time residents in 2020. Kate is a passionate Purdue fan, and she enjoys a wide range of sports, including basketball, golf and squash, mastering the art of enjoying sports with minimal skill.
Matt Lowrie
Matthew B. Lowrie is a partner and intellectual property lawyer with Foley & Lardner, LLP. He has extensive experience in computer architecture, software, circuits, telecommunications, consumer products and medical devices. Formerly chair of the firm’s Intellectual Property Litigation Practice, Matt has served as lead trial counsel in nearly 200 patent cases across multiple states and before the International Trade Commission and the Court of Federal Claims. Matt’s background includes a law clerk position at the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts, corporate law expertise in licensing and transactions, and a deep technical knowledge, with publications and presentations at international conferences. Before joining Foley, Matt co-founded Lowrie, Lando & Anastasi, LLP, and chaired the Litigation Practice Group at Wolf, Greenfield & Sacks for over four years.