AI 101: Foundations of Artificial Intelligence — KDCI's AI Upskilling Program

On August 26th and 27th, selected members from the Human Resources, IT/Support, Marketing, and Operations departments were gathered for the pilot session of AI 101: Foundations of Artificial Intelligence, a two-day professional development program designed to establish foundational AI literacy across the company.

This initiative represents a deliberate step within KDCI's broader AI adoption strategy, founded on the principle that AI competency should not be confined to technical departments alone. Rather, the company has articulated a vision in which every employee, irrespective of function or role, is equipped and encouraged to use AI as a means of enhancing operational efficiency.

Program Structure and Curriculum

The training was structured across two days, progressing from conceptual grounding to applied, hands-on competency.

Day One - August 26, 2026 addressed foundational concepts, beginning with a clarification of what constitutes artificial intelligence beyond its common usage as an industry buzzword. This was followed by a comparative overview of prevailing large language models — namely ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Copilot — and a discussion of their respective distinguishing characteristics. The session then progressed to "Prompting 101," an introductory module covering:

• The core components of an effective prompt
• Prompt patterns demonstrated to yield consistent, reliable outcomes
• The transition from prompt construction to the development of a functioning AI agent

Day Two - August 27, 2026 was oriented toward the responsible and judicious application of artificial intelligence within a professional context. Topics addressed included:

• Considerations pertaining to the responsible use of AI, including the risks of hallucination, algorithmic bias, and the handling of confidential organizational data
• An examination of the contexts in which AI tools generate measurable efficiency gains, as well as circumstances in which their application may prove counterproductive
• A concluding exercise, "Judge the AI," in which participants critically assessed the accuracy and reliability of AI-generated outputs

Instructional Approach

The program was delivered through a discussion-based format, supplemented by interactive Kahoot! quizzes intended to reinforce key concepts and sustain participant engagement. Two experiential learning activities were incorporated to translate theoretical understanding into practical skill: an exercise in image recreation through iterative prompting, and a guided activity in the construction of an AI agent.

A Notable Point of Discussion

A particularly resonant moment in the program occurred during the session on responsible AI use, when facilitators posed the following question to participants for consideration:

"Would you like it if your AI Overview answers were formulated from opinions rather than real and factual data?"

This question served as a catalyst for substantive discussion regarding the manner in which AI-generated outputs may reflect underlying biases embedded within training data, underscoring the importance of critical evaluation when incorporating AI tools into professional workflows.

Strategic Significance

The AI 101 program should be understood not as an isolated training event, but as a component of a sustained, organization-wide commitment to artificial intelligence adoption. By establishing a shared baseline of AI literacy across departments, the organization aims to position artificial intelligence as an accessible and integral efficiency tool for the broader workforce, rather than a capability limited to specialized technical teams.

Looking Ahead

In light of the positive engagement and participation demonstrated during this inaugural session, a second offering of AI 101 is to be expected, with the intention of extending this foundational training to additional departments and personnel.

The organization extends its appreciation to all participants from Human Resources, Information Technology, Marketing, and Operations for their engagement and contributions, which were instrumental to the success of this first cohort.