Artificial intelligence is everywhere - but most people still aren’t sure where to start. Join us for a practical, beginner-friendly Lunch & Learn that shows you what AI can actually do for everyday work and small-business tasks. No tech background required.
In this session, you’ll learn simple, time-saving ways AI can support writing, communication, organization, and decision-making. We’ll walk through real examples you can try immediately, whether you’re faculty, staff, a student, an entrepreneur, or part of the local business community.
Bring your lunch and join us at CoWork @ The Hub — or attend online.
(Garden Babies will deliver to CoWork!)
About the Speaker:
Lara Taylor is a Project Manager for the MSU Center for Entrepreneurship & Outreach, where she leads technology and innovation initiatives across CoWork @ The Hub and the Idea Shop. She is a 2025 Perplexity Business Fellow and a Mississippi AI Collaborative Research Fellow, recognized for her work in AI literacy and responsible technology adoption. Lara teaches practical, real-world AI skills to students, faculty, and business owners and is pursuing her Doctor of Technology at Purdue Polytechnic with a focus on human-AI collaboration.
AI isn’t one thing anymore. Each system has its own strengths, quirks, limitations, and “personality.” Knowing which one to use - and when - can save you hours and give you dramatically better results.
In this fast, friendly session, you’ll get a practical tour of today’s most popular AI tools, including ChatGPT, Grok, Perplexity, Gemini, Claude, and Microsoft Copilot. We’ll break down what each tool does well, where it struggles, and how to choose the right one for your everyday tasks, projects, or business needs.
You’ll learn:
-Why different AI systems produce different answers
- Which tools write better, summarize better, research better, or “think” better
-When to use ChatGPT vs Perplexity vs Grok
-What “hallucinations” really are and how to avoid them
-How to get better results without complex prompts
-Real examples from work, school, and Mississippi small businesses
-A simple guide for choosing the right AI tool for the right job
Whether you’re brand new to AI or you’ve been exploring on your own, this workshop will help you understand the landscape - and get better, safer results from whichever tools you decide to use.
Bring your lunch and join us at CoWork @ The Hub - or attend online.
(Garden Babies will deliver to CoWork!)
About the Speaker:
Lara Taylor is a Project Manager for the MSU Center for Entrepreneurship & Outreach, where she leads technology and innovation initiatives across CoWork @ The Hub and the Idea Shop. She is a 2025 Perplexity Business Fellow and a Mississippi AI Collaborative Research Fellow, recognized for her work in AI literacy and responsible technology adoption. Lara teaches practical, real-world AI skills to students, faculty, and business owners and is pursuing her Doctor of Technology at Purdue Polytechnic with a focus on human–AI collaboration.
AI doesn’t have to be complicated, technical, or overwhelming — and you don’t need advanced skills to start benefiting from it today. In Mississippi, where small teams, limited time, and tight budgets are common, the right AI tools can make everyday tasks faster, easier, and far less stressful.
This workshop shows you exactly how to use AI for real life in our state — whether you’re running a business, teaching a class, managing a nonprofit, working in local government, or simply trying to stay organized.
You’ll learn:
-The most useful AI tools for everyday Mississippi life
-How to use AI for emails, reports, scheduling, content, forms, and research
-What AI can actually replace — and what it can’t
-Free and low-cost tools that work even on slow internet or older devices
-How to use AI safely without risking privacy or security
-Real Mississippi examples from small businesses, educators, nonprofits, and community groups
-10 simple workflows anyone can try today — no hype, no jargon
This is a down-to-earth, practical session designed to help you save time immediately. Whether you're a beginner or already experimenting with AI, you'll walk away with tools and workflows you can use the same afternoon.
Perfect for:
Small business owners • educators • staff • students • nonprofits • local government • community leaders • anyone who wants AI to make life easier.
Bring your lunch and join us at CoWork @ The Hub — or attend online.
(Garden Babies will deliver to CoWork!)
Bring your lunch and join us at CoWork @ The Hub — or attend online.
(Garden Babies will deliver to CoWork!)
About the Speaker:
Lara Taylor is a Project Manager for the MSU Center for Entrepreneurship & Outreach, where she leads technology and innovation initiatives across CoWork @ The Hub and the Idea Shop. She is a 2025 Perplexity Business Fellow and a Mississippi AI Collaborative Research Fellow, recognized for her work in AI literacy and responsible technology adoption. Lara teaches practical, real-world AI skills to students, faculty, and business owners and is pursuing her Doctor of Technology at Purdue Polytechnic with a focus on human–AI collaboration.
