81%
Parents & families
of U.S. parents surveyed had used AI for parenting tasks, including meal planning and activity ideas.
Lurie Children’s, May 2026 · 1,004 parents of children under 18; surveyed April 2026.
AI Without
the Hype or Panic
Greene County's community AI Literacy Event
- Date Friday, October 23, 2026
Created for you, your family, and our community.
A free AI literacy event for people across Greene County, Missouri.
Come on your own, bring your family, or join your neighbors to learn practical ways to use AI and keep your judgment. AI is already part of everyday life. From family routines and workplaces to public services and classrooms, understanding what AI can do and when to question it matters now.
Friday, October 23, 2026
Annie Busch Community Room
The Library Center
Springfield-Greene County Library District
4653 S Campbell Ave, Springfield, MO 65810
Free. Family-friendly. No technical background required.
Reserve your free seat-
Older adults & caregivers
Understand how AI works, recognize warning signs of deepfakes and scams targeting grandparents, and learn how to verify an urgent request.
-
Students
Learn how AI can support your studies, how to check its answers, and how to keep your own thinking and learning at the center.
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Children & young people
Explore what AI can do, why its answers can be wrong, and what to keep private. Learn when to ask a trusted adult for help.
-
Educators
Help learners question AI answers, recognize its limits, and use it responsibly while building their own understanding.
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Business owners
Build the judgment to question AI outputs, protect customer information, and make responsible decisions about when and how to use AI.
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Working professionals
Learn to check AI-assisted work, protect sensitive information, and keep human judgment and accountability in everyday decisions.
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Community members
Make sense of AI in everyday life, question convincing claims, and share practical ways to stay informed with family and neighbors.
Why this conversation matters now.
52%
At work
of U.S. employees use AI in their role at least a few times a year.
Gallup, May 2026 · U.S. employees.
46%
Community services
of U.S. state and local government employees surveyed use AI at work, with uses including document processing, translation and customer service.
MissionSquare Research Institute, June 2025 · 2,000 employees; surveyed January 2025.
54%
Learning & school
of U.S. teens ages 13–17 have used an AI chatbot for help with schoolwork.
Pew Research Center, February 2026 · 1,458 teens and their parents; surveyed September–October 2025.
Build AI capability. Keep your judgment.
Equipping individuals, families, and institutions to use AI safely, wisely, and responsibly.
Practical AI education to help you understand AI, use it confidently when you choose, and keep your critical thinking, boundaries, and human judgment intact.
Opposed to using AI, skeptical, worried, or curious but unsure? You are welcome. Already using it? Explore how to strengthen your judgment and extend your capabilities.
What you will explore
- What AI can and cannot do, explained in plain language
- Ways to learn, create, and solve everyday problems with AI
- How to question convincing answers, check claims, and notice what may be missing
- How to protect your privacy, set boundaries, and decide when to use AI or step back
What this is not
- An event that insists you must use AI
- A technical or coding class
- A sales pitch or an AI hype session
- A replacement for your own thinking and decisions
Registration is open
Reserve your free seat
Free to attend, and open to everyone in Greene County. Please count every seat you need, including children.
We will use your details to confirm your place and send you event logistics.
About the facilitator
Dr. Gbemisola Adetayo
Dr. Adetayo founded the AI User Safety Initiative to do one thing: help individuals extend their capabilities with AI, with their judgment and critical thinking intact. With a Harvard Executive Education in AI Leadership, Strategy and Governance, she works with Businesses, communities, and Institutions on responsible AI Transformation.
She is the creator of the SAFE AI Use Framework™ and author of the SAFE AI USE Manual: What to Ask, What to Avoid, and How to Stay in Control with ChatGPT and Other AI Tools.
Her teaching and facilitation approach is practical, plain-language, and designed for nontechnical audiences.
The things people ask first.
Do I need any technical background to attend?
No. This event is built for people who do not think of themselves as tech people. Everything is explained in plain language, and there is nothing you need to know in advance.
Do I need to bring a laptop or phone?
No device is required. You are welcome to bring one, but the session is designed to work entirely without it.
Is it really free?
Yes. There is nothing to pay at any stage. Registration is required so we can plan seating and refreshments.
Can I bring my children?
Yes. The event is family-friendly throughout. Children are welcome with a parent or caregiver and remain under caregiver supervision for the whole event. Please count every seat you need, including children, when you register.
Where in Greene County is it being held?
Annie Busch Community Room
The Library Center
Springfield-Greene County Library District
4653 S Campbell Ave, Springfield, MO 65810
Is this a sales pitch for an AI product?
No. Nothing is sold at this event. It is public AI literacy education run by the AI User Safety Initiative.
What if I am skeptical about AI?
Then you are exactly who this was built for. Skepticism is a reasonable response, and the session treats it as a starting point rather than a problem to be corrected.
Friday, October 23, 2026 · Greene County, Missouri
Understand what AI can and cannot do.
Come learn how to maintain your judgment and critical thinking in an AI-powered world. Bring your questions, your curiosity, or your doubts — everyone is welcome.