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About this class

This immersive course introduces participants to the fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence (AI) with a special focus on Perplexity AI, a conversational research assistant that blends search and generative AI.

The morning session explores what AI is, how Perplexity works, and how to use effective prompting techniques to guide its responses for research, writing, and problem-solving.

In the afternoon, learners participate in a collaborative AI Prompt-a-Thon, applying Perplexity to real-world challenges. By the end of the day, participants will understand how to think critically, prompt strategically, and use AI tools responsibly to enhance productivity and creativity.

What you'll be able to do

Define Artificial Intelligence (AI) and describe its practical workplace applications.
Explain key AI concepts such as large language models, tokens, context, and hallucinations.
Understand what Perplexity AI is, how it differs from traditional search engines, and when to use it.
Apply prompting fundamentals including:
- Instruction, question, and role-based prompts
- Contextual and few-shot prompts
- Iterative refinement prompts
Use Perplexity for research, summarization, and ideation.
Collaboratively solve workplace problems using AI in a guided Prompt-a-Thon.
Present refined, AI-driven solutions and reflect on ethical implications (e.g., accuracy, bias, and transparency).

Course outline

1 - Welcome & Course Overview

Introductions and objectives
Agenda overview and expectations

2 - What Is AI?

Understanding AI and machine learning in simple terms
What LLMs are and how they generate responses
Real-world examples of AI in everyday tools

3 - Introduction to Perplexity AI

What is Perplexity and how it differs from ChatGPT or Gemini terms
Interface overview: “Focus Mode,” “Pro Search,” and “Copilot” terms
How Perplexity combines search + generation terms
When to use Perplexity vs. traditional search engines

4 - Prompting Fundamentals in Perplexity

What is a “prompt” and how it impacts AI outputs
Structure of a good prompt
Types of prompts:
- Instructional
- Role-based
- Contextual
- Research-focused prompts
Live demo: Crafting and refining prompts in Perplexity
Guided exercise: Students test and improve their own prompts

5 - Transition to Prompt-a-Thon

Overview of afternoon activity
Group formation and challenge preview
Prompt-a-Thon theme examples (e.g., improving workflows, enhancing communication, or decision support)

6 - Prompt-a-Thon Kickoff

Review Prompt-a-Thon goals and flow
Emphasize experimentation, iteration, and teamwork

7 - Group Brainstorming

Identify 3-5 real challenges that Perplexity could help address
Choose one focus problem per team

8 - Prompt Design & Testing

Create, refine, and document multiple prompt versions
Use Perplexity to research, synthesize, and generate solutions
Capture best examples of refined outputs

9 - Presentation Development

Summarize the problem, prompt iterations, and AI-generated results
Prepare a short team presentation

10 - Group Presentations & Wrap-Up

Teams present their findings
Peer and facilitator feedback
Discussion: lessons learned and responsible AI use

11 - Prompt-a-Thon Goals

Reinforce understanding of AI fundamentals
Build prompting proficiency using Perplexity
Encourage creative and ethical application of AI
Boost confidence in real-world AI use

Before you attend

No prior experience with AI or coding required.
Comfort with basic computer and internet use.

Who this is for

Professionals seeking to enhance their productivity and critical thinking using AI. Teams interested in learning how AI-powered research assistants can streamline work. Non-technical users curious about using AI for writing, analysis, or ideation.