When I teach AI, whether it’s a masterclass, a corporate training, or a university lecture, I’m not just teaching people to use ChatGPT. I’m teaching them how to think differently.
So in this episode, I’m bringing you behind the scenes of how I teach AI – thinking beyond the technology and bringing your life’s work and experience to the fore.
So if you learn something new today, please share this podcast with a pro you know.
We have been shortlisted for the All-Ireland Podcast Awards in the Business and Innovation category.
Lots of industries and sectors are coming to me right now for AI training, masterclasses, and guest talks, which I’m absolutely loving. But there’s a structure and a purpose to how I teach AI, and that’s what I want to share with you today.
The first thing I always do is give an introduction to the science of AI.
You can’t use something effectively unless you understand what it is. So I explain how AI works, how it’s trained, how it predicts, and why it’s probabilistic rather than logical. Once people understand that, the mystery fades. The fear goes.
Then, we get clear on the why of AI. Why are you adopting it? What problem are you trying to solve? Because if you don’t define your why, you’ll be using AI for the sake of it, and that’s when it becomes a gimmick, not a game-changer.
The real promise of AI is productivity, efficiency, and scalability. But those only come when your use of AI connects to purpose.
Next, we move into AI literacy.Â
This is about understanding what AI can and can’t do. Many people arrive with fragments of knowledge; they’ve tried ChatGPT, seen a few LinkedIn posts but they don’t have the full picture.
My sessions are interactive by design. I start with a short primer, move into a keynote, then an activity, and finally a reflection. That rhythm embeds the learning. It’s not a lecture; it’s an experience.
- Then we explore the three levels of AI – AI tools, AI assistants, and agentic AI.
Tools handle specific tasks. - Assistants automate processes.
Agentic AI takes initiative and acts with reasoning.
When I show these levels with live examples, people finally see how far AI can go in their own roles.
From there, we do an AI audit.
This is where participants map out their weekly work — every repetitive, manual, or time-intensive task, and identify where AI could help. That becomes the foundation for an AI use case model. It’s personalised, practical, and ready to pilot.
We also look at ethical AI and policy.
You can’t scale AI responsibly without trust. So we cover fairness, transparency, and compliance with frameworks like the EU AI Act. I always say: write your policy before you launch your pilots.
Then we move to data – what data you have, how it’s stored, and how it powers AI. You don’t need to be a data scientist, but you do need to know your data landscape. It’s what turns AI from reactive to strategic.
Once the foundations are set, we go hands-on with tools and prompt engineering.
People love this part because it’s where they start to see results in real time. I teach them structured prompting, role-based prompting, and how to iterate for accuracy.
Finally, we close with an AI roadmap, a clear plan for what comes next: pilot projects, training priorities, and governance steps.
So that’s how I teach AI. It’s not just about AI tools; it’s about helping them understand the science, define their why, build literacy, act ethically, and walk away with a roadmap they can use the very next day.
If you’d like to learn with me, you can join one of our group classes, take the online Diploma in AI for Marketing and Communications Professionals, or bring me in for a tailored workshop. Email me at joanne@digitaltraining.ie.
And one last thing, what AI questions do you have? I’d love to feature them here on AI SIX.
Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a pro you know.
You can get your copy of AI Playbook at aimarketingplaybook.ie, or if you’re listening internationally, it’s on Amazon.
About the Podcast Host
Joanne Sweeney is a specialist in public-sector marketing and digital communications. She’s the author of Public Sector Marketing Pro and the creator of the Professional Diploma in AI for Public Sector Marketing. With years of experience in training, consulting, and advocating for digital transformation, Joanne provides insight and guidance for government agencies navigating the digital landscape. She is also the host of the award-winning Public Sector Marketing Show podcast.
