The Red River Parish Library opened its doors on March 3, 2026, to offer a hands‑on introduction to artificial intelligence for community members. During the two‑hour workshop, more than 15 participants explored foundational internet skills before stepping into the rapidly growing world of AI technology.

The session began with an overview of basic internet vocabulary and navigation, ensuring that every attendee—regardless of prior experience—felt confident navigating online platforms. From there, the group shifted into a deeper look at artificial intelligence, learning to distinguish between conversational AI, predictive AI, and generative AI, three categories that shape much of today’s digital landscape.

Participants practiced locating and opening specific AI websites, gaining firsthand experience with tools that are becoming increasingly common in workplaces, schools, and daily life. The training concluded with an interactive exercise in which each person crafted their own prompts and submitted them to an AI system, watching in real time as the technology generated responses based on their input.

Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive. Many expressed excitement about the material’s accessibility and the practical skills they gained. Several participants have already committed to returning for the follow‑up training scheduled for April, which will focus on more advanced prompting techniques and the risks and benefits associated with using AI.