Beyond the Chatbot

CMU's AI Institute for Societal Decision Making is hosting Beyond the Chatbot at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - Main in Oakland on Tuesday, October 20, from 6 PM to 7 PM. The talk takes place in the South Wing Reading Room on the second floor, and it's a presentation on generative AI chatbots and functional AI technology.

If you've spent any time online lately, you've probably seen the chatbots—the ones that can write an email, summarize a long article, or just chat back and forth. That's the generative side of things. This talk looks past that to functional AI, the kind of technology that does specific tasks rather than just generating text. It's a good way to get a handle on the difference between the AI that talks and the AI that works.

The presentation comes from a new AI literacy curriculum developed by PittCyber, which first rolled out in June. The curriculum doesn't just cover what AI can do; it spends just as much time on its limitations and the risks that come with it. It grew out of consultations with residents about what they actually wanted to know, and it's funded in part by the Henry L. Hillman Foundation. PittCyber frames the whole project around 'civic resilience'—the idea of giving people from all walks of life the tools to keep their footing as the technology changes around them. They've positioned libraries, nonprofits, and community institutions as the trusted partners to help residents navigate that shift.

So, if you've been curious about how this stuff actually works—and where it falls short—this is a solid place to start. Registration is recommended, but walk-ins are welcome. It runs from 6 PM to 7 PM on Tuesday, October 20, in the South Wing Reading Room on the second floor of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - Main, 4400 Forbes Ave.