Northern Innovation 101: What Is AI and What Is a GPT?

An accessible workshop, introducing artificial intelligence, generative AI, and creative technology for artists, educators, nonprofits, and community leaders.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the way people create, communicate, research, and organize — but for many communities, AI still feels confusing, inaccessible, or disconnected from everyday life. Hosted by the Art Borups Corners Living Lab, this introductory workshop breaks down the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and GPT systems in clear, approachable language while grounding the conversation in northern innovation, participatory research, and community empowerment.

Participants will explore how generative AI tools actually work, including large language models like GPTs, AI image generation systems, and emerging creative technologies reshaping the arts and nonprofit sectors. Through live demonstrations and practical examples drawn from the Living Lab’s own research, the workshop introduces participants to AI-assisted writing, brainstorming, visual storytelling, grant development, digital archiving, and collaborative creative workflows. Special attention is given to how artists and organizations without technical backgrounds can begin using these tools immediately in meaningful and low-barrier ways.

The session also examines the broader social and ethical questions surrounding AI: Who owns data? Who benefits from automation? How can communities protect cultural knowledge while engaging with emerging technologies? Rather than promoting AI as a replacement for human creativity, the workshop positions these tools as instruments for strengthening local storytelling, increasing organizational capacity, and expanding access to digital innovation in underserved and remote regions.

Rooted in the realities of northern and rural life, the workshop highlights how communities across Northwestern Ontario and beyond can actively shape the future of AI instead of simply consuming technologies built elsewhere. By combining creative experimentation with critical discussion, the Art Borups Corners Living Lab aims to make artificial intelligence more transparent, collaborative, and community-led — ensuring that the next generation of digital innovation includes voices from the North.

For more information, contact us at: info@artsincubator.ca