Level 100 · Live online via Google Meet
Two hours to lasting AI judgment.
A live, beginner-friendly class for small-business owners and working professionals. Learn how to choose the right AI tool, give it useful context, write better prompts, protect your data, and put five leading AI tools to real work — habits that stay useful as the tools change.
No paid AI subscriptions required. Every scheduled class runs once someone registers.
- Format
- Live on Google Meet
- Length
- 2 hours
- Price
- $100 per attendee
- Class size
- Maximum 20
- Next class
- Sat, Sep 12 · 2:00–4:00 p.m. CT
- Also offered
- Sat & Sun, every week
Includes your private class recording, slides, tool comparison guide, prompting and privacy checklists, and recommended next steps.
Small live classes, on purpose
Learn without feeling rushed
Maximum 20 attendees
Small enough that your questions get answered, live.
Space to ask questions
Direct access to the instructor throughout the two hours.
Non-intimidating
Plain language, no developer background assumed. Follow along or just watch.
Every class runs
Once someone registers, the class happens — even for one attendee.
What you'll learn
By the end, you'll be able to
Not a glossary — working knowledge. Every concept is taught through something you'll actually do with the tools.
- Explain what an AI model is — and how it differs from an AI product
- Understand why the same question gets different answers (deterministic vs. nondeterministic)
- Choose between AI tools for different kinds of tasks
- Provide the context that makes answers dramatically better
- Write, evaluate, and improve useful prompts
- Understand inputs, outputs, system instructions, and context windows
- Use AI answers without blindly trusting them
- Tell hosted, local, open-source, and closed-source models apart
- Protect personal, customer, and company data
- Explain agents, tools, plugins, and MCPs at a high level — and know what to learn next
The five core tools
Five tools, one working vocabulary
You'll work with all five during class and leave knowing which to reach for, and when.
No. 1
ChatGPT
The everyday generalist — structuring, drafting, and working through problems.
No. 2
Claude
Careful writing and reasoning — polished documents and thorough analysis.
No. 3
Gemini
Working with your photos, documents, and the Google tools you already use.
No. 4
Perplexity
Research with sources — answers you can check and cite.
No. 5
Venice
Open-source models — what model choice and privacy really mean.
No paid AI subscriptions required. The free version of each tool is enough for everything we do in class. Bring a laptop and follow along, or simply watch and listen.
Class program
How the two hours work
Times shown from the start of class. The same program runs in every session — Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
| 0:00–0:15 | Models vs. products What an AI model actually is, how it differs from the product built around it, and why the same question can get different answers. |
|---|---|
| 0:15–0:35 | The five core tools ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, and open-source models through Venice — what each is best at and how to choose per task. |
| 0:35–0:55 | Context and prompting Provide relevant context, write and improve prompts, and understand inputs, outputs, system instructions, and context windows. |
| 0:55–1:10 | Protecting your data What never to paste into an AI tool. Personal, customer, and company data; hosted vs. local; open vs. closed models. |
| 1:10–1:45 | Working session: one scenario, five tools The arborist demonstration — a real business problem moves through every tool, and you follow along. |
| 1:45–2:00 | Where this leads Agents, tools, plugins, and MCPs at a high level. A look at Vercel v0 and what you could build next. |
One scenario, five tools
Watch a real business problem move through every tool
The working session follows one connected example: an arborist wants to qualify a potential customer and prepare a preliminary tree-removal estimate range before committing time to an on-site visit. Each tool handles the part it's best at.
- PerplexityResearches regional factors with sources — local permitting, protected-tree rules, seasonal considerations an estimate should account for.
- GeminiReads the customer's photos and documents and turns them into structured notes about the tree, access, and site conditions.
- ChatGPTStructures the intake questions and drafts a preliminary estimate range from everything gathered so far.
- ClaudeDrafts the customer-facing explanation and the internal workflow the business can reuse for the next inquiry.
- VeniceRuns part of the same task on an open-source model — a concrete look at model choice and privacy trade-offs.
The result is preliminary qualification and estimation only. AI does not replace an on-site arborist inspection — final pricing is always subject to an in-person safety assessment. That boundary is part of the lesson.
What's included
Everything stays with you
Every class is recorded. You get private access to the Drive folder for your own class — review the lesson at your own pace, whenever you need it.
- Two-hour live class on Google Meet (max 20 attendees)
- Your private class recording
- Presentation slides
- AI tool comparison guide
- Prompting checklist
- Privacy & data-protection checklist
- Example prompts to reuse and adapt
- Recommended next steps
Upcoming classes · All times Central (CT)
Choose a class date
Classes run every week — Fridays 6:00–8:00 p.m., Saturdays 2:00–4:00 p.m., and Sundays 6:00–8:00 p.m. New dates are added weekly.
Week of September 7
Saturday, September 12, 2026
2:00–4:00 p.m. CT · Live on Google Meet · $100
Registration closes 2 hours before each class starts. Every scheduled class runs once someone registers — there is no minimum enrollment.
Recording & private materials
Your class, on record — privately
Every class is recorded so you can focus on learning instead of note-taking. After class, you receive access to a private Drive folder for your class only — it is never public and never shared with other cohorts.
Cameras and microphones are optional. You'll see a plain-language recording notice before you pay, and public promotional use of anything you say or show always requires your separate permission.
In your private class folder
- Your class recording
- Presentation slides
- AI tool comparison guide
- Prompting checklist
- Privacy & data-protection checklist
- Example prompts
- Recommended next steps
Access applies to your registered class only. Keep it and review at your own pace.
Who this is for
If you've used AI but still feel uncertain, this is your class.
All you need is a laptop, a Google account, free accounts for the four core tools, and an interest in learning. Nothing to install, nothing to pay for beyond the class.
- Small-business owners who want AI working for the business
- Working professionals who want to be the AI-literate person on the team
- People who use AI casually but want to trust their own judgment with it
- Anyone who wants to understand the landscape before building an app or agent
- People who prefer practical education over a technical deep-end
Clear expectations
This class is the foundation — the building comes next
In this class
- Foundations that outlast any single tool or model
- Live, hands-on work with five leading AI tools
- Plain-language explanations built for working adults
- A preview of agents, plugins, MCPs, and tools like Vercel v0
Saved for Level 200 and beyond
- Building an application or product — that's Build With AI
- Developing agents or MCPs — saved for a later level
- Personalized production implementation for your business
- Legal, financial, or security review — bring those to your professionals
After this class
Ready to build? Level 200 is waiting.
Level 200 · In person, Austin
Build With AI
Bring a laptop and an idea, and use AI to build a working product or workflow in a group of eight — with two follow-up office hours. $250, Saturday mornings in Austin.
Coming next: Level 300 — AI Workflows and Agents.
Refunds & transfers
Plans change. Here's exactly what happens.
| Cancel 24+ hours before class | Full refund, or a free transfer to any open date — your choice. |
|---|---|
| Cancel less than 24 hours before class | Free transfer to any open date. No cash refund. |
| No-show | No refund, but you keep access to your class recording and materials. |
| We cancel the class | Full refund or free transfer — your choice. |
| We materially change the schedule | Full refund or free transfer — your choice. |
All deadlines are measured in Central Time. Full policy in the Workshop Terms.
Frequently asked questions
Good to know before you register
Do I need a paid AI subscription?
No. The free versions of ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity are enough for everything we do in class. Venice is demonstrated by the instructor.
What if I'm the only person who registers?
The class runs. Every scheduled class runs once someone registers — there is no minimum enrollment.
Do I have to be on camera?
No. Cameras and microphones are optional for the whole class. You can ask questions in chat.
Why do you ask for a Google account email?
It's used for exactly three things: your Google Calendar invitation, your Google Meet access, and your private Drive folder. It can be different from the email you pay with, and it isn't used for marketing.
Is the class recorded?
Yes — every class is recorded, and you get private access to the recording for your class only. Recordings are never public and never shared with other cohorts. You'll confirm a plain-language recording notice before payment.
How long do I keep the recording and materials?
You keep access to your class recording and materials so you can review them at your own pace.
Is this a coding class?
No. Nothing is installed and no code is written. If you want to build a product with AI, that's the Level 200 workshop, Build With AI.
Do I need to prepare anything?
A laptop, a Google account, and free accounts for ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity. Creating the accounts takes a few minutes — instructions arrive with your confirmation.
Can I book this for my team?
Yes — email hello@getspiffy.ai about a private session for your business or organization.
Saturday, September 12, 2026 · 2:00–4:00 p.m. CT · $100
Two hours from now-ish, you'll know how this all works.
Small class. Live instructor. No paid subscriptions. Your own private recording.
Register for Saturday September 12Prefer a different day? See all upcoming dates