Still Learning 16: Demystifying AI – Everyday Uses for Real Life

This course will take place on Tuesdays, Feb. 3, 10, 17, and 24, 2026, 1:00-3:00 p.m., with Dustin Filippini at the Iron County Courthouse Boardroom in Hurley, Wis.

By the end of this course, students will understand what artificial intelligence is, how it works in everyday life, and how to use AI tools effectively and responsibly. You will be able to identify the benefits and risks of AI, recognize misinformation or bias in AI outputs, and apply AI to enhance personal or professional tasks. Students will leave with practical skills, critical awareness, and confidence to navigate the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

The course will be given in 4 sessions, each 120 minutes long, covering the following topics:

• What is AI? An introduction to the foundations of artificial intelligence, explaining what AI is, how it has evolved over time, and how modern systems learn from data. Students will also gain a clear understanding of the major types of AI and the roles they play in everyday technologies.
• The Good and Bad of AI: Examine both the benefits and risks of AI, highlighting real breakthroughs that improve medicine, accessibility, business, and daily life. It also addresses major concerns, including bias, privacy, copyright, environmental impacts, and the broader effects of AI on work, education, and society.
  
  
• Using AI in Your Everyday Life: Explore practical ways to use AI in everyday life, introducing the major platforms and demonstrating how they assist with real tasks at home or work. Students will learn how to write effective prompts, evaluate AI outputs, and practice hands-on use through guided demonstrations and exercises.
  
  
• Using AI for Good: Focus on how individuals and communities can help ensure AI is used responsibly and for the common good, from personal choices to broader societal efforts. It introduces practical steps for incorporating AI into daily life, offers guidance on thoughtful advocacy around AI issues, and expands on meaningful, beneficial applications of AI in work and home settings.

Requirements: This course doesn’t require any deep tech expertise, just a healthy curiosity about how AI and technology work. If you can use the internet, you’re already in good shape. Having a laptop or tablet with you in class can make things easier, but it’s not a must. There are no required books to buy, though there may be a few optional reads if you like diving deeper. Between sessions you’ll get some light, optional activities, the kind you can do with a cup of coffee rather than a
stack of textbooks.

Instructor Dustin Filippini has spent more than 25 years working across the tech landscape, from IT and hardware roles to modern web development and programming. Over the past 15 years, he has specialized in building websites and applications with the latest technology, tools, and frameworks, serving education, non-profits, small businesses, and corporate clients. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business from Northern Michigan University and an Associate’s degree from Gogebic Community College, and has presented, guest lectured, and led workshops at events and conferences nationwide. Originally a local from Bessemer, he returned home several years ago and is again based in his hometown.

This class is limited to 25 students.

We recommend signing up at least two weeks ahead of class to ensure class fills and to prevent cancellation.

Instructor: Dustin Filippini

Online Registration: Scroll down to our Registration form to register online!
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Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.

Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 862-2032 or (715) 476-2881.

Registration Issues/Troubleshooting: If you are registering with one email address for two or more people, please register each person individually (i.e. do not register all at once, but add students one at a time to checkout). If you continue to have difficulty or have another question, please contact us.

Course Cancellations: Students are encouraged to register at least 2 weeks before the beginning of any Fe University course. A course with less than 4 students 2 weeks before the start date may be cancelled at instructor/FeU discretion, with students’ registrations refunded. If you’re interested in a class, please sign up early! Thank you.

Student Cancellations: If a registered student cancels, registration can be refunded if requested 4 or more days before the course’s start date. We’re afraid cancellation requests made 3 or fewer days before the course’s start date are unable to be refunded.

This “Still Learning After All These Years” series course is priced at a discount, thanks to a generous grant from Bader Philanthropies Inc.