AI is already reshaping how governments serve people, how universities teach, and how communities solve their hardest problems. This session brings together NCDIT leadership, Durham County officials, and university voices for an honest conversation about what's working, what isn't, and where residents and public servants can plug in. The second half is a citizen ideation workshop — you map how AI can address real problems in your own community. Come ready to think out loud. Best for: government staff, public sector leaders, university partners, community advocates, and anyone who wants a say in how AI gets used where they live.

The people winning right now aren't necessarily the most technical — they're the ones who know how to use AI tools to do more, faster. This session is built for workers, job seekers, career changers, and entrepreneurs who want practical, hands-on skills they can use immediately. We'll walk through prompting, AI-enhanced workflows, and how to position yourself — or your business — in a market that's already shifted. We close with a community showcase featuring people who are already making it work. Best for: professionals in transition, job seekers, early-career workers, entrepreneurs, and anyone ready to add real AI skills to their toolkit.

Your competitors are already using AI for marketing, operations, customer service, and design. This session is where you catch up — and get ahead. A representative from a major AI platform joins regional startup founders for unfiltered demos and real talk about what actually works for small businesses. The hands-on workshop that follows gives you tools you can implement before you leave the building. No jargon. No fluff. Just what works. Best for: small business owners, entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, freelancers, startup founders, and anyone running a business who wants AI doing more of the heavy lifting.

Credentials matter. This session is built around earning one. Knox St. Studios' Google-certified graduates share live implementation stories — real people, real results — before attendees jump into a hands-on certification session they complete and carry out the door. Whether you're looking to upskill, re-enter the workforce, or prove your expertise to clients and employers, you leave Thursday with something tangible. Then we raise a glass together at the Happy Hour Finale. Best for: professionals who want verified AI credentials, workforce development participants, recent grads, and anyone who has been meaning to get certified and just needs the time and space to do it.