AI for Regular People (Lecture)




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Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping nearly every aspect of our lives, from chatbots and autonomous vehicles to precision medicine and robotic art. Back by popular demand, this updated course will revisit key concepts from the previous offering (such as the history of AI and its surprising comeback) but updated examples and discussion topics will reflect the latest developments. In these jargon-free sessions, we will explore what makes modern AI different from earlier attempts, how it works, and where it’s headed. We will consider the human side of AI including the jobs it might replace or create, the ethical dilemmas it raises, and how it could help, or harm, our daily lives. Whether we are curious, cautious, or excited about AI, this course will provide ways to understand and engage with this powerful technology.

Your instructor: Melba and Hod Kurman and Lipson
This course is co-taught by Hod Lipson, PhD, Professor of Engineering and Data Science at Columbia University, and author and technology analyst Melba Kurman. Dr. Lipson directs Columbia’s Creative Machines Lab, where his team builds artificially intelligent robots that can design, create, and express emotion. One of the world’s most-cited academic roboticists, his work has been featured in The New York Times, NPR, TED, and Quanta. Melba Kurman has held roles at Microsoft, Cornell University, and several tech startups. She writes about emerging technologies and their societal impact. Together, they co-authored Driverless and Fabricated: The Promise and Peril of 3D Printing, and are frequent speakers on AI and innovation. They divide their time between New York City and the Berkshires.


Class Dates and Time: Thursdays, April 2 through May 7
4pm Pacific | 5pm Mountain | 6pm Central | 7pm Eastern
Each session is 90 minutes. 
 
 Class schedule: Live lecture will take place on Thursdays via ZOOM 
  • 4/2/2026
  • 4/9/2026
  • 4/16/2026
  • 4/23/2026
  • 4/30/2026
  • 5/7/2026

Class Details

6 Session(s)
Weekly - Thu

Location
Virtual - Any Location

Instructor
Osher Online 

Tuition: 

$70.00

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Schedule Information

Date(s) Class Days Times Location Instructor(s)
4/2/2026 - 5/7/2026 Weekly - Thu 06:00 PM - 07:30 PM N/A, Virtual - Any Location  Map Osher Online 

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