About us
Learn AI by actually using it.
HoCo AI is a free, in-person community based in Columbia, MD for anyone who wants to figure out how artificial intelligence fits into their work, their business, or their life.
Every month we get together for a real presentation, live demos, good food, and honest conversation. Our members include software developers, business professionals, data people, students, and plenty of folks who are just curious and want to learn. You don't need to be technical to get something out of this.
There's no shortage of AI content out there — but most of it doesn't answer the question people actually have: how do I use this in my world? That's what we're here for.
What a typical meeting looks like:
- 6:30 PM — Doors open, networking, pizza & drinks
- 7:00 PM — Welcome and announcements
- 7:10 PM — Main presentation (45–60 min, usually with live demos)
- 8:10 PM — Q&A and open discussion
- 8:30 PM — Raffle, wrap-up, informal networking
- 9:00 PM — End
What we're about:
- Practical over theoretical — tools you can use Monday morning
- Community over content — you can watch a YouTube video at home; you can't network with it
- Inclusive — whether you've been fine-tuning models or you just started using ChatGPT last week, you belong here
We meet on the 3rd Thursday of every month in Columbia, MD, serving the Baltimore–Washington corridor.
Founded by Don Kitchen, a technology leader with 25+ years in software, systems, and architecture — and a longtime believer in the power of local user groups.
Website: hocoai.org Contact: [hello@hocoai.org](mailto:hello@hocoai.org)
Upcoming events
1
AI in 2026: What Actually Matters (and What Doesn't)
Broken Land Pkwy, Columbia, Ma, USThis is meeting #1. Come help us kick it off.
AI is everywhere right now — in your inbox, your search bar, your coworker's workflow, your kid's homework. But most of what you read about it online is either hype or fear. What's actually useful? What's changed in the last year? And what should you be paying attention to right now?That's what we're covering. Founder Don Kitchen will cut through the noise with a no-BS look at the state of AI in 2026 — the tools that are actually worth using, how real people are applying them at work, and where things are heading next. Expect live demos, real talk, and zero jargon for jargon's sake.
Whether you write code, run a business, manage a team, or just want to stop feeling behind — this one's for you.
No experience required. Just show up hungry (we've got pizza).
***
🗓️ Schedule:
🕡 6:30 PM — Doors open, networking, pizza & drinks
🕖 7:00 PM — Welcome, announcements, sponsor spotlight
🕢 7:10 PM — Main presentation (45–60 min)
🕗 8:10 PM — Q&A and open discussion
🕣 8:30 PM — Raffle, closing remarks, networking
🕘 9:00 PM — End***
What to expect:
- Always free to attend
- Pizza and drinks on us
- Casual and friendly — come as you are
- A raffle with prizes at the end of each meeting
- A room full of AI-curious people from Howard County and the Baltimore–Washington corridor
***
About HoCo AI: There's no shortage of AI content out there — but most of it doesn't answer the question people actually have: how do I use this in my world?
That's what HoCo AI is for. Real conversations, real use cases, real people figuring it out together. We meet on the 3rd Thursday of every month in Columbia, MD. Great presentation, good food, better people. No sales pitches.
Community sponsor: DGK Technologies
Questions? Reach out at hello@hocoai.org or visit hocoai.org.
18 attendees
