New San Diego lab offers 90-minute AI workshops for residents

Residents of San Diego County can now learn to use artificial intelligence through a new computer lab in City Heights. The City Heights Community Development Corporation built the space to give locals direct access to software that has previously been harder to find in community settings.

The lab is set to open to the public before the end of the year. While the facility is currently in its launch phase, it already offers training on programs such as Co-Pilot and Claude. Instructors guide students through practical applications, ranging from simple tasks like budgeting to more complex projects such as modeling the process of securing a small business loan.

Angel Stancer, the vice president of workforce development and community impact at the organization, said these types of learning environments have often been limited to academic institutions. She noted that local residents have not always had easy access to such technology training.

"We see that these types of environments have been reserved for academia and uh maybe some more places that our residents don't necessarily have access to," Stancer said.

Workshop attendees say the hands-on approach helps them prepare for the changing job market. Austin Roth, who participated in a session, emphasized the need to gain practical experience as the technology continues to change.

"I just know AI is evolving so much, so just getting as much hands on as I can, um, to help me with, where I go next in life," Austin said.

Joseph Johnson, another attendee, added that the training fills a specific gap for aspiring entrepreneurs. He said there are few classes designed for people who want to run their own businesses using AI. The lab will also include 90-minute standalone workshops and a robotics room where residents can interact with emerging technologies.