Having decided that the idea of an AI Club was worth pursuing, Dennis and I co-opted Ray into the initiative and set out its underlying assumptions.These are listed below.
Assumption: there is a market for an AI Club amongst the local population of active and retired professionals, small business owners, and the like. These people are aware of AI’s potential, curious about it, but unsure how best to make use of it.
Assumption: the social aspect of our club will make it a suitable, informal setting for people to learn how AI tools can improve the quality and productivity of their work.
Assumption: Although different people will find different aspects of AI useful, there are some common purposes. These include:
- supporting personal or professional development;
- getting more done in less time;
- creating better quality output;
- improving the the quality of service offered to others; and
- saving money.
Assumption: a face-to-face, small-group format with peer interaction, real-time demonstrations, and a narrative focus will be more appealing than virtual courses or corporate-style workshops.
Assumption: people will be willing to attend in-person sessions and contribute a modest fee once value is evident. They will think that the experience is more useful, trustworthy, and rewarding than online alternatives.
Assumption: at present, no equivalent offering exists locally that blends live demonstration, peer learning, and practical AI support with such a low-barrier to entry.
Assumption: Anapoly can deliver sessions using current, general-purpose AI tools such as ChatGPT, Perplexity and NotebookLM without a costly technical infrastructure, relying on existing facilities and minimal setup.
Assumption: Anapoly, as a local consultancy run by experienced professionals, will be trusted by the audience and seen as non-threatening, practical, and thoughtful.