Verso University: Technology Lunch & Learn: AI for Small Business (November)

Friday, November 13, 12 pm - 1 pm | Location: Komansky Room | Registration Fee: FREE | Limited to 35 participants

Course Details

Are you using AI like a glorified search engine? Most business owners type in a quick question, get a generic answer, and never see what these tools can really do. This session, AI 101: Getting Started, shows why that happens and how to fix it.

You’ll learn the basics of prompt engineering: how to give an AI tool the context, instructions, and examples it needs to produce work you can actually use. We’ll walk through two simple, repeatable frameworks, RISE and BRIDGE, that turn vague requests into structured prompts for everyday tasks like writing emails, drafting marketing copy, summarizing documents, and brainstorming ideas. We’ll also demystify the growing list of AI tools, comparing ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Copilot, so you know which one fits which job, what the free versions can and can’t do, and what to keep out of any AI tool to protect your business and your customers’ data.

No technical background required. Bring your lunch, your questions, and a real task you’d like help with.

Join us December 11 for AI 102: Next Steps, where we move from prompting to automation, AI agents, and security.

About Verso University

• Classes are usually structured as a consecutive series.
• Class size is often limited.
• Each series has a one-time registration fee covering all classes in the series.
• Registration is mandatory.
• The Westport Library wants to ensure that all interested students are able to participate in Verso University courses. If the registration fee is a barrier to entry for you, please contact JConnon@westportlibrary.org.

Verso University is the Library’s lifelong learning and education initiative, serving up year-round offerings of classes, workshops, and lectures designed to further education and learning. Offerings run the gamut of educational opportunities, ranging from one-time lectures to ongoing courses to classes that meet weekly or perhaps monthly.

Verso University programs are made possible by the generous support of the Nancy J. Beard Lifelong Learning and Education Fund.

Library Refund Policy

Programs, prices, and dates are subject to change. Tickets are non-transferable between events but may be passed along to another attendee. All sales are final. Refunds are issued only if The Westport Library cancels an event outright. In the case of a postponement or reschedule, refunds are not guaranteed provided the event takes place within 12 months of the original date. Refunds, when applicable, are issued in the original form of payment.