What is AI, really? This session cuts through the hype and gives your team a clear, grounded understanding of what artificial intelligence is, how it works, and why it matters for mission-driven organizations.
Artificial intelligence is everywhere in the news, but for many nonprofit teams the conversation still feels abstract, technical, or disconnected from their day-to-day work. This session changes that. We start with the fundamentals: what AI actually is and is not, how it learns, and what makes today's tools different from what came before. Then we move into the key terminology your team will encounter: machine learning, large language models, generative AI, natural language processing, and more. Rather than memorizing definitions, you will learn to think about these concepts in the context of your own work.
We close by surveying the trends shaping AI today, from the rapid evolution of tools to the policy conversations happening around responsible use, so your team walks away informed, confident, and ready to engage with AI on their own terms. No technical background required. Just curiosity.
Topics Covered in this Session
Each topic is introduced with plain language, real-world examples, and time for questions. No jargon without context.
We demystify the term "artificial intelligence" by breaking down what it means in practice. You will learn the difference between narrow AI and general AI, understand how machine learning works at a high level, and separate genuine capability from marketing hype.
We also clarify a distinction that shapes how AI tools behave: the difference between AI that generates (creates new content like text, images, or code) and AI that predicts or classifies (makes decisions from existing data, like flagging a donation as likely to lapse). Both matter for mission-driven work, and confusing them leads to misplaced expectations.
Large language models, generative AI, natural language processing, neural networks, training data, multimodal AI: these terms are everywhere. We walk through each one in plain language so your team can follow the conversation with confidence and ask better questions.
Multimodal AI in particular is worth understanding now, as models that can process text, images, audio, and video simultaneously are already in widespread use and increasingly embedded in tools your staff may already be using.
Understanding how AI models are trained, fine-tuned, and updated helps you set realistic expectations. We cover the basics of how these systems get built, what they are good at, where they fall short, and why the same tool can give different answers to the same question.
We also address hallucination: the tendency of language models to confidently generate false information. For a nonprofit audience making decisions based on AI outputs, this is one of the most important concepts to understand, and it belongs at the foundation of any honest conversation about what these tools can and cannot do.
A high-level survey of the AI ecosystem as it exists today. We orient your team around the categories of tools most relevant to their work: AI embedded in software they may already use (Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Salesforce), standalone generative AI tools for writing and content creation, AI-powered search and research assistants, data analysis platforms, workflow automation, and emerging autonomous agents.
The landscape is evolving fast, and this topic gives your team a map that helps them make sense of new tools as they appear.
From the rise of AI agents to evolving policy and regulation, we close with a forward look at the trends that will shape how mission-driven organizations interact with AI in the months and years ahead.
We also address something the landscape makes necessary: AI literacy is not a one-time event. What is true today may not be true in six months. We give your team a short list of reliable sources to follow so they can stay current beyond this session and continue building their understanding as the field evolves. Your team leaves with a sense of where things are headed and the habits to keep pace.
Designed to Meet You Where You Are
Every session is interactive and tailored to your team's experience level and goals.
90 Minutes
Enough time to go deep without overwhelming. Includes live Q&A throughout.
In Person or Virtual
Available on-site in Colorado or via live video for remote teams anywhere.
No Prerequisites
Built for beginners and curious minds. No technical background needed, just a willingness to learn.
Built for Your Team
This session is designed for anyone in a mission-driven organization who wants to understand AI, regardless of their role or technical experience.