FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — As artificial intelligence continues to shape the way people work and learn, local educators are offering the community a free opportunity to better understand how to use technology.
Experts from Fresno State University and Fresno City University will host a one-day workshop next month aimed at teaching practical applications of artificial intelligence.
The event, sponsored by Granville Homes, will be held July 11 at Fresno City College.
For students like David Ortiz, the growing presence of AI is creating both curiosity and anxiety.
“If you’re a student, you might be afraid to use AI because you’re told never to use it, but I think it’s very important to learn about AI,” Ortiz said.
Ortiz said he was first exposed to AI tools in Professor Todd McLeod’s computer concepts course, where the topic is a key part of the curriculum.
“We talked a lot about AI,” he said.
McLeod, an information systems professor at Fresno City University, said the focus on AI reflects its growing relevance in daily life and across industries.
“So this is a critical skill,” McLeod said. “Perhaps the most important skill you can learn today is how to use AI more effectively, because it will pay dividends in all other areas of your life.”
McLeod and Fresno State School of Computer Science Dean Dr. Alex Liu worked together to develop the workshop after visiting Silicon Valley with students.
They said they want to make AI education more accessible to the broader community.
This workshop will cover 13 specific AI skills, from basic concepts to more advanced applications. Organizers say the content is designed for a wide audience.
“This workshop will be of benefit to everyone, whether you are a business owner or not, or whether you are an individual working for someone else or looking for a job,” McLeod said. “AI is a universal tool that can be applied to any situation.”
Dr. Liu said participants will also be able to participate in real-world simulations and use AI tools to solve their own challenges.
“For example, we will look at how long it takes to wait at traffic lights and whether we need new investment from the government to ensure lanes are not congested all the time,” Liu said.
Attendees are encouraged to bring a laptop or smartphone and download one of the popular AI platforms such as ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini, or Claude. No prior experience required.
The workshop is 5 hours long.
“We want to take this opportunity to introduce AI and make sure that AI is a tool that can make people more productive and efficient,” said Liu. “It’s so they can spend their time doing more time-consuming things.”
Organizers encourage participants to pre-register, but participation is free. Click here to register.
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