Learn what AI really does
Forget the sci-fi scenarios. I break down where AI already shows up in your everyday life, from healthcare to education to the decisions you make daily. You'll see what it's doing: looking at millions of examples of how people have written and answered things before, then guessing what comes next.
Know what to worry about
Bias, privacy, misinformation, job losses. These are conversations to have, and I tackle them head-on in plain language, so you can separate a legitimate concern from fear-mongering and decide for yourself.
Become confident and curious
Walk away with your own opinion about AI, and reasons for it. You'll know how to spot hype, ask the right questions, and start using AI on your own terms: ethically and responsibly.
What we'll cover in 90 minutes
What AI is in plain language
The six things everyone says about AI, and what to do with each one. Then the three kinds you already use every week without noticing.
How to get output you can use
What makes a prompt work, which tool to reach for, and a live demo you help steer. Plus bias, privacy, and what responsible use looks like.
How to spot a fake
Why the old visual clues are already failing, and a four-step method for when your eyes stop being reliable. Bring your questions, I answer them live.
About this course
Here's the thing: AI is everywhere, and the conversation around it is broken. On one side, technology boosters overselling the magic. On the other, headlines screaming about job losses, the environment, and robots taking over. The truth sits somewhere in the middle, and it's far more interesting than either extreme. This course is for the curious. People of all ages and backgrounds who want to understand what's happening without needing a computer science degree. You'll learn what AI does, how it shows up in your world, and most importantly, what's hype and what holds up. I cover the stuff that matters: how AI works, where it's already helping, where it's causing problems, the ethics you should care about, and how to use it responsibly. You'll walk out with a clearer head, more confidence, and the ability to join the conversation as an informed human. Ready? Let's cut through the noise together.
$39.00
About Theresa Benson
I built a software company's public position on bias in AI back when the industry was avoiding the subject. What happens when a system learns from lopsided information, who gets hurt by it, and how much worse it gets when the thing goes from one lab to everywhere. I helped build tools to catch it. I also had access to these models early, and I tried things. They got a lot of it wrong. The sixth image I ever made was a dachshund. It came back with six legs, and that dog has taught more people than I have, because it's the whole lesson in one picture: the machine will hand you something confidently wrong, and you're the one who has to count. I created this course because I was tired of watching people get paralyzed by fear or seduced by hype, and I realized nobody was standing in the middle. I know which fears are founded, because I worked on them. I know how the machine fails, because I watched it fail in front of me. That's the middle. It's where my book came from, and it's where this course comes from. And explaining it without the jargon? That's just how I work. I believe everyone deserves to understand the tools shaping our world, as a thoughtful human who asks good questions and makes good decisions. That's what I want to share: clarity, confidence, and a good question or two. If you're tired of the extremes and ready for a straight conversation about AI, this course is for you.
Curious beats scared. Every single time.
Trade the late-night dread for a clearer head. Come as you are, and meet the elephant in the room. It's a live conversation in plain language about the technology everyone keeps talking about, and you can ask me anything. Worst case, you'll understand AI better than most of the people arguing about it online.
$39.00
What people are saying
What people say time and again is some version of, "I'm now interested in learning more about AI and less afraid."
It was the single most informational overview of AI I have had in quite some time.
Retired CIO / CTO
I am one of those people whose mind was closed to AI. You have opened my mind and now I am excited to dig in. I am 77 years old and not afraid of the computer.
Quilter
Fantastic lecture. Very interesting and dispelled a lot of my bias against AI.
QuiltCon 2026 Attendee
Very well researched and communicated difficult-to-grasp concepts in an easy and engaging manner.
QuiltCon 2026 Attendee
Stop scrolling. Start learning.
Whether you're worried AI is coming for your job, confused by the headlines, or just curious about what everyone's talking about, this course meets you where you are. No prerequisites. No judgment. Just clarity.
$39.00