This fall, Minnesota author, Chief AI Officer, and company founder, Zac Engler, will be leading “AI in Your Neighborhood”, a free three-part series at Chaska Library designed to make artificial intelligence practical and understandable for everyone.
Participants will learn what AI tools actually do, how to use them in everyday life and how to recognize AI-enabled scams. Attendees are encouraged to bring questions, a laptop and a little healthy skepticism.
Engler began writing about AI in 2016 after realizing how quickly the technology was advancing and how few people understood what was coming. Since then, he has gone from tech blogger to Chief AI Officer at C4 Technical Services, and has built teams at Apple, Amplifon, and Sanctuary AI. His book, Turning on Machines, combines insights from history, philosophy, and his own experience leading people through rapid technological change.
“AI has the potential to create a new divide between people who know how to use these tools and those who have never had the opportunity to learn,” said Engler. “That’s why accessible, community-based education matters. Everyone deserves the chance to understand AI, use it with confidence and protect themselves and their families from its risks.”
The event details can be found here:
- Wednesday, October 21: What AI Is (And What It Isn’t) – Learn what AI really is, what it can and can’t do, and why it matters today. Explore how AI is changing work, how to spot AI-powered scams, and see live demonstrations of popular AI tools. You’ll also have a chance to try AI for yourself.
- Wednesday, October 28: AI Tools For Your Real Life – Discover practical ways to use AI in your daily life. Learn how to use AI for healthcare questions, writing, organization, research, and small business tasks while protecting your privacy. You’ll explore trustworthy AI tools, discuss what information AI can access, and build a simple personal AI workflow in this hands-on session.
- Wednesday, November 4: AI Tools for Business: Practical Tools for Entrepreneurs and Working Professionals – Explore how AI is reshaping business operations, freelance work, and career strategy, with hands-on examples you can apply immediately.
Each evening session is 90 minutes. Seats are limited to 30 participants, but no registration is required.
