AI for Everyone

AI for Everyone: Understanding Artificial Intelligence in a Changing World

Artificial Intelligence is no longer a distant or abstract concept—it is shaping how we work, learn, create, and communicate every day. AI for Everyone is a high-level, accessible course designed to help learners understand what AI really is, how it works, and why it matters, without requiring a technical background or prior experience.

The primary goal of this course is to demystify AI and make it understandable for everyone—students, professionals, creatives, educators, and curious minds alike. Rather than focusing on coding or technical implementation, the course emphasizes conceptual understanding. Through engaging lessons, real-world examples, and thoughtful discussion, learners will explore foundational AI concepts, common applications, current capabilities, and important limitations.

By the end of the course, students will be better equipped to think critically about AI, engage confidently in conversations about its impact, and understand how these technologies are shaping society, work, creativity, and education. This course is an invitation to move beyond hype and fear, and toward clarity, literacy, and informed curiosity about the intelligent systems increasingly woven into everyday life.

Written and instructed by Dan Hawes, a writer, producer, academic researcher, and technology entrepreneur, this course draws on decades of experience at the intersection of storytelling, emerging technology, and human-centered design. Daniel is currently an Adjunct Research Professor at the Carleton University School of Information Technology, where his research explores how technologies such as AI, virtual reality, and immersive media can shift perspectives, improve mindsets, and transform how people learn. His work bridges academia, industry, and creative practice, grounding complex ideas in real-world context.