2026 Fall
Instructor: Sharon Reishus
Fridays • 9/25 – 10/2 • 1:00 PM-3:00 PM
Class size 5-20 students
20 seats remaining
Location: Jewett 190
Artificial intelligence is suddenly everywhere — in search engines, phones, health care, education, customer service, creative tools, and the news. This two-session course will offer a practical, non-technical introduction to what AI is, how tools like ChatGPT work, and how people can use them in everyday life. Through live demonstrations and discussion, participants will learn how to ask better questions, evaluate AI-generated answers, protect their privacy, and recognize both the promise and risks of AI. The course will also explore how AI may affect work, education, health care, creativity, democracy, and daily life in the years ahead. No prior experience with AI is required; curious beginners and experienced users are both welcome. Participants who would like to try AI tools during class are encouraged to bring a charged laptop, tablet, or smartphone, but a device is not required to participate.
AI for Real Life: Tools, Judgment, and the Future
Sharon Reishus has spent her career working at the intersection of technology, energy, regulation, and institutional change. She is a former state agency head, a longtime strategic consultant, and an experienced board leader and advisor in higher education, health care, and climate/energy organizations. In the last few years, she has been deeply engaged in questions about how artificial intelligence may reshape education, work, governance, and society. She brings a practical, non-technical perspective to helping adults understand AI tools, use them wisely, and think critically about their broader impact.