The Innovation Black Chamber of Commerce is hosting a two-day boot camp on artificial intelligence on Sept. 13 and 14 at the Hampton Inn, 126 E. Central Texas Expressway in Harker Heights.
The camp, which runs from 6 to 8 p.m. on Sept. 13 and from 8 a.m. to noon on Sept. 14, will focus specifically on applying AI to marketing.
The number of people who can attend the event is capped at 15 and, as of Thursday, 10 spots had been filled.
Prospective attendees can learn more about the event and register on the chamber’s website.
Ronnie Russell, president of the Innovation Black Chamber of Commerce, indicated small-group learning works best for this type of program. It is not a PowerPoint-centric lecture; the class includes practical exercises and hands-on learning.
“You’re actually creating projects,” Russell said. For example, one of the tasks is planning out a 30-day marketing calendar with assistance from AI.
Those projects will utilize a variety of different programs. Russell said most people tend to think of ChatGPT, a generative AI chatbot created by OpenAI, when looking at AI, but this boot camp goes beyond that.
Russell has access to hundreds of different AI platforms and programs, many of which he said are stronger than ChatGPT. One example of the programs that will be used at the camp is Canva, a generative AI tool primarily used for graphic design.
The boot camp is being run by Russell in collaboration with Charles Wilson, the membership chair for the Innovation Black Chamber of Commerce. Russell described their experience as a combination of self-education and certification. “I’ve been doing AI way before it was real sexy,” he said.
Russell has incorporated AI throughout his work with chamber. For example, he has used it to assist with marketing and grant writing. “I write all our grants with AI,” he said. “I’ve been very successful.”
He noted many people are often fearful of AI or concerned it will eradicate their jobs. “That’s not how AI works,” he said, pointing to the fact that numerous new jobs have been created in the generative AI field. “It’s not taking your job,” he said. “It’s enhancing your skill set.” Rather than being afraid of it, he encouraged people to learn more about it.
He described it as a tool that can be used to enhance and expedite a variety of tasks across any industry. “It expedites your time,” he said. “It gives you your time back.”
While this boot camp is focused specifically on how to improve marketing with the use of AI, classes in the past have dealt with a variety of other subjects. Russell has helped soldiers and real estate professionals alike utilize it; he is currently in the process of working with a construction firm based in Austin on AI.
“The one consistency,” he said, “is AI can be tailored for you.”
This will be the fifth AI camp hosted by the chamber; previous classes have been held across Killeen, Harker Heights and Temple.
Russell intends to host more in the future; he is currently in the process of planning a sixth camp in Nolanville.
Writing and nonprofit work are just a few of the topics he suggested might be the focus of future classes. He said, “I really think that this is one of the most comprehensive workshops in Central Texas.”
In addition to addressing the perceived scariness of AI, Russell also cleared up misconceptions around who could attend the event.
He recalled seeing a message on Facebook that suggested only Black individuals could attend one of the Innovation Black Chamber of Commerce’s events, which is incorrect.
“Everyone can participate,” he said. “The target for the AI cohort are forward thinkers and early adopters.”