Collaboratory brings human skills to forefront at Aug. 28 AI Fridays
Collaboratory and the SWFL HI AI Innovation Hub continue the AI Fridays series on Friday, Aug. 28, with two free sessions examining the human skills and considerations shaping how organizations use artificial intelligence in the workplace.
The Aug. 28 sessions address key aspects emerging alongside AI adoption: maintaining authenticity in AI-assisted work and strengthening human decision-making. Led by the SWFL HI AI Innovation Hub, AI Fridays features different speakers and topics on select Fridays at Collaboratory in Fort Myers through the end of the year, helping Southwest Florida move from AI awareness to practical application.
From 10 to 11 a.m., Anna Haney-Withrow of Florida SouthWestern State College leads “The Authentic Advantage,” guiding participants to consider where AI can support their work and where human involvement matters most. The beginner-level session explores how people can use increasingly capable AI tools without becoming overly reliant on them or losing what makes their work authentic and trustworthy.
“AI may be changing the way we work, but people still determine how that technology is used and what value it ultimately creates,” said Dawn Belamarich, president and CEO of Collaboratory. “These conversations challenge us to look beyond adopting the latest tools and consider where AI can strengthen our work, where human judgment matters most and what we should preserve along the way.”
Angelo Biasi, founder of Solvably+Credably.ai and one of EdTech Digest’s Top 100 Influencers, leads “Mastering Decision-Making in the Age of AI-Closing the ROI Gap” from noon to 1 p.m. The intermediate-level session examines how gaps in human decision-making can limit returns on AI investments, from evaluating AI recommendations and risks to determining when people should override or defer to technology. Participants receive a framework for identifying decision-making gaps within their own organizations.
“Preparing Southwest Florida for an AI-enabled future requires us to strengthen human capabilities alongside technological ones,” said Dr. Guido Minaya, president of the SWFL HI AI Innovation Hub. “When people have the skills to question, evaluate and make informed decisions about AI, our entire region is better positioned to use these tools in ways that create meaningful value for our communities.”
The majority of AI Fridays sessions are free, and advance registration is encouraged. To register for the Aug. 28 sessions, visit Collaboratory.org/swflhiaihub/events/. Additional AI Fridays events take place Sept. 11 and 25, Oct. 9 and 23, Nov. 6 and 20, and Dec. 11.
To learn more or become involved with Collaboratory, call 239-274-5900 or visit Collaboratory.org.
About Collaboratory
Collaboratory is Southwest Florida’s regional community foundation and convener, committed to coordinating solutions to the region’s most pressing social challenges by 2040. For more than 50 years, Collaboratory has mobilized philanthropy and stewarded more than $147 million in charitable investments across a five-county region by bringing together nonprofits, education, government and private-sector partners to drive systems-level change. Through grantmaking, scholarship administration, community research, capacity building and cross-sector collaboration, Collaboratory aligns resources, talent and data to ensure donor dollars are strategically invested for measurable, lasting impact and a stronger, more resilient Southwest Florida. To learn more and get involved, call 239-274-5900 or visit www.Collaboratory.org.