What's true and what's propaganda? What's coming next? We'll try to sort that out week by week in this study group.

No meeting on July 14. Final meeting on Aug 18.

What's true and what's propaganda? What's coming next? We'll try to sort that out week by week in this study group.

No meeting on July 14. Final meeting on Aug 18.

THIS STUDY GROUP IS FULL. Please click the "Add to Waitlist" button below.

Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant or abstract technology - it is becoming part of everyday life: helping people write, plan, learn, explore ideas, and engage with the world around them. This discussion-based course invites participants to explore AI not as a replacement for human thinking, but as a thinking partner - a tool that can support curiosity, creativity, and lifelong learning. Together, we will experiment with real-world examples drawn from the Midwest - including Chicago, St. Louis, Indianapolis, and our own University of Illinois community - to see how AI can assist with:

Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant or abstract technology - it is becoming part of everyday life: helping people write, plan, learn, explore ideas, and engage with the world around them. This discussion-based course invites participants to explore AI not as a replacement for human thinking, but as a thinking partner - a tool that can support curiosity, creativity, and lifelong learning. Together, we will experiment with real-world examples drawn from the Midwest - including Chicago, St. Louis, Indianapolis, and our own University of Illinois community - to see how AI can assist with:

• Planning travel and cultural experiences
• Supporting health and lifelong learning
• Exploring science and research topics
• Writing memoir and personal reflections
• Understanding public issues and civic life
• Organizing personal projects and information

No technical background is required. The emphasis is on practical use, thoughtful discussion, and shared discovery. This group also opens up the opportunity for interested members to connect outside of the study group with each other to try out different techniques, platforms, and uses of AI.

Planned Topics for each session (subject to change):

• Session 1 - What AI Really Is (and Isn’t): We begin by demystifying artificial intelligence. What is a “large language model”? Why does AI sometimes get things wrong? Where is it useful— and where should we be cautious?
• Session 2 - AI in Everyday Midwestern Life: We explore practical, relatable examples: planning a Chicago visit, comparing Midwestern museums, exploring Route 66, organizing photos, and drafting everyday communications.
• Session 3 - AI for Learning and Intellectual Inquiry: How might AI support lifelong learning? We’ll experiment with summarizing articles, exploring scientific ideas, and preparing for lectures or study group discussions—especially in connection with the University of Illinois.
• Session 4 - Creativity, Memoir, and Expression AI as a creative companion: writing personal stories, refining ideas, exploring poetry, and improving clarity in communication. Participants will have the option to create a short memoir vignette.
• Session 5 - The dangers of AI and its benefits: What are the biggest drawbacks to AI and the way it may impact society. How will it change employment, warfare, government, education, healthcare etc?
• Session 6 - The Future: AI and Human Judgment: We conclude with a broader conversation: How might AI shape work, education, creativity, and democracy? What remains uniquely human?

Reading materials: Materials from the Internet.

Due to the exploratory and conversational nature of this study group, for fullest participation and appreciation, the in-person format is recommended, but Zoom participants are welcome.

Participants will write poems and share them with the group weekly. Special attention is paid to using model poems by published poets to learn about the tools in the poet’s tool kit and how to use them. No previous experience with reading or writing poetry is needed. For each session, we’ll start with an open mic-style reading of our poems, followed by discussion of the next model poem, then some light critiquing of our poems by study group participants.

Reading Materials: Facilitator will provide materials.

Participants will write poems and share them with the group weekly. Special attention is paid to using model poems by published poets to learn about the tools in the poet’s tool kit and how to use them. No previous experience with reading or writing poetry is needed. For each session, we’ll start with an open mic-style reading of our poems, followed by discussion of the next model poem, then some light critiquing of our poems by study group participants.

Reading Materials: Facilitator will provide materials.

Each week this group meets to exchange news about writing in the Champaign-Urbana area, share a craft tip or exercise, and then (the main activity) read passages members have written and have the group critique them and make suggestions for improvement. This group includes all genres and forms: children’s stories, young adult, science fiction, historical fiction, memoir, poetry, song, travel – you name it.

All levels of experience are welcome. We all start somewhere, and the best place is in the company of those who are working toward the same goals.

Each week this group meets to exchange news about writing in the Champaign-Urbana area, share a craft tip or exercise, and then (the main activity) read passages members have written and have the group critique them and make suggestions for improvement. This group includes all genres and forms: children’s stories, young adult, science fiction, historical fiction, memoir, poetry, song, travel – you name it.

All levels of experience are welcome. We all start somewhere, and the best place is in the company of those who are working toward the same goals.