AI Basics & Open-Mic Social @ Hendersonville Library

#### AI Basics & Open-Mic Social @ Hendersonville Library

Date: Saturday, May 24 | 2 – 4 PM
Location: Learning Lab, Hendersonville Public Library (large classroom with projection screen & rolling desks—see photo)
Why come?
Whether you’re a complete beginner, a hobby coder, or just AI-curious, this afternoon is designed to be equal parts learning, sharing, and connecting—with the comfy structure of a classroom and the friendliness of a coffee-shop hangout.

##### What’s on the agenda?

| Time | Activity |
| ---- | -------- |
| 2:00 PM | Welcome / quick round-robin introductions |
| 2:10 PM | AI Basics lightning lesson (15 min high level research-based walkthrough of how large-language models work & discuss what they can’t do) |
| 2:30 PM | Open-Mic mini-talks — Got a demo, a question, or an ethical angle? Sign up when you arrive. |
| 3:00 PM | Hands-on mini-exercise — bring a laptop/tablet; we’ll guide you through a simple prompt-engineering challenge. |
| 3:30 PM | Unstructured mingle & snack time — keep the conversations rolling or pull someone aside for a laptop show-and-tell. |

Times are as flexible as the room’s rolling tables...

##### What to bring

• Laptop or tablet (free Wi-Fi & plenty of outlets)
• Questions, demos, or hot takes for the open-mic
• Snacks / non-alcoholic drinks (library rules)
  (We’ll supply napkins, cups, and a communal ice chest.)

##### How we’re different from “AI Hacks & Hops”

• Broader lens: tech + society, ethics, and the future
• Beginner-welcoming: we’ll never assume you know Python, but we love it if you do

##### Reserve your seat

Space is capped at 20—RSVP now to guarantee a chair (and so we know how many cookies to bring). If you’d like a 5-minute speaker slot, tick the “I want to present” box at signup or drop a note in the event comments.