When you Google a question today, a website doesn’t always pop up first — instead, an artificial intelligence overview greets you. While AI is rapidly emerging across everyday life, the tools to learn how to properly use it may be closer than ever
“I feel like it kinda gives each of us superpowers,” said Andrew Skattevo, Adjunct Instructor for John Wood Community College (JWCC) Workforce Development.
These so-called superpowers come at the click of a button. While it is a powerful tool now in the hands of everybody, Skattevo notes that it’s the fastest adopted technology in history.
He also said AI is now the fastest and most widely distributed technology in the world. From search engines and home electronics to the phones kept on our hips, Skattevo says, “AI is everywhere right now. Even if you try, it’s very hard to avoid it.”
According to a Pew Research Center study, the number of American adults who use AI has doubled since 2023. As use grows, people are working to learn “ways to safely use it and ways to get the most out of it because it can be bewildering to start with.”
However, that same Pew study found that only 18% of American adults feel highly confident using AI.
To level the playing field, Skattevo says education for all and how we view AI are key.
“This gives everyone the opportunity to see what’s possible,” Skattevo said. “It is very helpful for you to think of AI as an assistant, intern instead of artificial intelligence. What it does, how you work with it, how you talk to it, makes much more sense if you make that distinction.”
John Wood Community College offers AI classes in hopes of creating balance — even for those like Valerie Howell, who thought she already had a solid understanding of the technology.
“I’ve actually taken the class three times,” said Valerie Howell, Business and Industry Training Consultant at JWCC. “I thought I knew ChatGPT and Claude and Gemini because I’ve dabbled in it and it was astounding the things I picked up.”
While education is vital, for those without the time or money for an AI class, Skattevo says the tools to understand the technology are already in our hands — by using AI itself.
“The AI tools themselves are actually incredibly good at coaching you. Ask how you can do better. How can you rephrase it, what information does it need?” he said.
However, that does not mean letting the tool take over.
“The worst thing you can do is really kind of offload your critical thinking and judgment to AI, that’s not really what it’s for,” Skattevo said.
Instead, the goal is using AI as an amplifier rather than the final say. Howell said she uses AI for “things that can help you in everyday life to save time so you can focus your effort and energy on things you really want to be focusing on.”
Skattevo noted that AI is changing rapidly, requiring him to completely rewrite the curriculum for JWCC’s AI classes every six months.
“Even people working in it day-to-day can’t keep up, so if you feel behind, it’s okay, we all do,” said Skattevo.
JWCC has upcoming AI classes scheduled. They are offering an AI Introduction on September 16th and November 4th. An AI Essential course is offered on September 23rd and November 10th.
They will also have a class at their Pittsfield location on October 13th. For pricing and further details on AI classes you can visit JWCC’s website.
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