AI for beginners

Abstract

Some people are afraid of AI. As AI touches many aspects of everyday life it is of great social relevance to know the basics. But only few basic trainings for people without prior knowledge exist. We are bridging this gap by providing an easy-to-access workshop free of charge. The training is designed for senior citizens, as well as secondary schools and middle-aged-people. The low-threshold training tells about the origins and functioning of AI, legal and ethical problems in Germany and where AI appears in everyday life. It shall reduce anxiety, provide an overview and encourage participants to keep learning. The workshop was developed by the management of the library and takes place there regularly as well as in other locations. This has created many networking opportunities, for example with the Senior Forum and the adult education centre of the city of Kehl.

Because of the constant updates in AI, the training is being continuously revised. A second training focusing on fake news has also emerged from this in the meantime. This training was honoured with the promotion prize as ‚library of the year 2025‘ from the National Association of Baden-Wuerttemberg of the German Library Association (dbv).