Purpose: To model and investigate how non-technical people can make good use of general-purpose AI in their work, using experimentation to understand the strengths and limitations of current AI tools.
Why does this matter? AI is now widely available, but there’s a credibility gap between hype and reality. Many people are unsure how to use AI effectively.
What is Anapoly AI Labs? Not a research lab, nor a tech incubator. A collection of small, hands-on labs simulating real-world contexts to explore the practical use of general-purpose AI tools.
How it works
A lab is a simulated workspace: a model of an office or home environment, set up to reflect the tasks and tools typical of a real working situation. It is equipped with one or more PCs and other internet-connected devices.
For some labs, the devices are physically co-located in one office, together with a large, touchscreen display. This setup is designed for when we want better interaction through face to face contact and shared viewing of experiments. In other labs, the devices may be distributed over two or more locations for remote working.
For all labs, digital files are held in cloud storage. Standard software such as Microsoft Office is used to create and edit documents, manage data, communicate by email, and support typical workflows. General-purpose AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and NotebookLM are accessed online.
The participants in a lab carry out realistic tasks in a simulated working context – researching a topic, drafting a proposal, analysing correspondence, writing a report – just as they might in their professional life.
To create a lab, we configure the physical and digital parts to suit its purpose. This involves connecting the equipment to a dedicated area of file storage whose content is tailored to the work context being modelled by that lab. Thus all documents, data, and outputs in a lab are context-specific and separate from those in other labs.
What Makes It Different? This isn’t a course, a product demo, or a sales pitch. It’s a testbed. The emphasis is practical: hands-on exploration of what general-purposeAI tools can and can’t do when pointed at everyday work.
Intended audience: curious professionals, small business owners, writers, and community actors – anyone who works with words, data, or decisions.
Mode of Operation: Small, in-person, hands-on sessions. Sometimes co-located, otherwise working remotely.
Outcomes: Better understanding of what AI can and cannot do in everyday contexts. A growing library of real examples and honest reflections. A trusted local presence in the AI literacy landscape.
Founders’ position: Experienced, local professionals not selling AI services but exploring their use. Not trying to be experts, but honest, curious testers of what’s actually useful. Hoping to pass on the baton to a younger team.