A Special Thank You to Thomas Wolf
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Thomas Wolf, Co-founder and Chief Science Officer of Hugging Face, for dedicating his time and expertise to our educators. His whirlwind tutorial on the thAI platform and community was incredibly insightful, helping our teachers gain a deeper understanding of AI tools and resources.
Hugging Face is a leading organization in the field of natural language processing (NLP) and AI, providing open-source AI models and fostering an engaged community of AI practitioners. By sharing his knowledge, Thomas has empowered our teachers with the skills they need to introduce students to cutting-edge AI concepts.
Collaborative Brainstorming: Designing AI Chatbot Workshops
Beyond his tutorial, Thomas actively participated in a brainstorming session with us to help shape the AI chatbot workshops we will be delivering to high school students. These workshops are a core component of PreparationTech’s Tech Skills Day, which aims to expose students to real-world applications of AI.
Workshop Objectives
During these sessions, students will:
Understand How AI Chatbots Work
They will learn the basics of AI chatbot technology, including machine learning algorithms, natural language processing (NLP), and prompt engineering.
Students will explore how chatbots interpret user input, generate responses, and improve through training.
Experiment with System Prompts
Students will engage in hands-on activities where they can modify chatbot prompts and see how different inputs impact responses.
This practical exercise will help them understand how AI systems can be shaped and fine-tuned for different purposes.
Discuss Key AI-Related Issues
The workshops will encourage critical discussions on data privacy, ethical AI, and bias in machine learning models.
Students will examine real-world examples of bias in AI and explore how AI systems can be designed to be more fair, transparent, and responsible.
By participating in these workshops, students will gain technical skills, develop a deeper understanding of AI ethics, and learn how to interact with AI in a thoughtful and responsible way.
Tech Skills Day: Empowering the Next Generation
What is Tech Skills Day?
Tech Skills Day is a special event dedicated to high school students from Amsterdam and Almere who belong to groups that are underrepresented in the tech industry. These include:
Girls
Racial and ethnic minority students
Students from low-income backgrounds
The event is designed to bridge the gap in tech opportunities by providing young students with exposure to industry professionals, hands-on workshops, and real-world applications of technology, coding, AI, and robotics.
What Can Students Expect?
Tech Skills Day is more than just a learning experience—it’s an opportunity for students to network, gain hands-on experience, and get inspired to pursue careers in technology.
Networking with Tech Professionals
Students will have the unique opportunity to meet and interact with professionals from various sectors of the technology industry. These experts come from diverse backgrounds, ensuring that students can see representation and role models in the field.
Engaging in Hands-On Tech Workshops
Students will participate in a series of interactive workshops that introduce them to exciting areas of technology, including:
Coding
Learning the fundamentals of programming languages and problem-solving through coding exercises.
Robotics
Discovering how robots work and how they are programmed to interact with the world around them.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Exploring AI tools and experimenting with chatbot systems to understand how AI models generate responses.
Discussing critical topics such as bias, ethics, and privacy in AI.
These workshops aim to make tech accessible, engaging, and inspiring, ensuring that students feel confident in exploring tech-related careers in the future.
Why This Event Matters
Closing the Diversity Gap in Tech
The technology industry still lacks diverse representation, with women, racial and ethnic minorities, and students from low-income backgrounds underrepresented in STEM fields. Tech Skills Day seeks to break these barriers by creating a welcoming space where students can see themselves thriving in technology.
Encouraging Hands-On Learning
Many students never get the chance to experiment with AI, robotics, or coding before they enter higher education. By providing these workshops early on, we help students build confidence and curiosity in tech fields.
Connecting Education with Real-World Impact
Students will not only gain technical skills but also critical thinking abilities that will help them understand the ethical implications of AI, privacy, and data security. These are essential topics in today’s digital world, and by introducing them early, we equip students to be more thoughtful and responsible technology users and creators.
Looking Forward to an Inspiring Tech Skills Day
With the valuable insights from Thomas Wolf and the Hugging Face community, our teachers are now well-prepared to guide students through an exciting exploration of AI and technology.
We can’t wait to welcome students, introduce them to industry professionals, and watch them engage with innovative tech projects. The future of technology is diverse, and events like Tech Skills Day help ensure that every student has the opportunity to be a part of it.
A big thank you once again to Thomas Wolf for his support in making this initiative a success! 🚀
Frequently Asked Qestions
What is the PreparationTech and Hugging Face collaboration about?
PreparationTech and Hugging Face have partnered to develop an AI chatbot workshop that teaches participants how to create and deploy AI-powered chatbots.
Who is the target audience for this workshop?
The workshop is designed for students, educators, and professionals interested in AI, natural language processing (NLP), and chatbot development.
What will participants learn in the workshop?
Attendees will gain hands-on experience in building chatbots using Hugging Face’s tools, including NLP models and conversational AI techniques.
Do I need prior experience in AI or programming to join?
Basic knowledge of coding (Python) is helpful but not mandatory. The workshop includes beginner-friendly instructions and resources.
How long does the workshop last?
The duration varies, but most workshops last from a few hours to a full day and cover theory and practical implementation.
Will there be a certification upon completion?
Yes, participants will receive a certificate recognizing their participation and newly acquired AI skills.
What tools and platforms will be used during the workshop?
The workshop primarily uses Hugging Face’s Transformers library, along with Python-based frameworks like PyTorch or TensorFlow.
Is the workshop free or paid?
Some sessions may be free, while others might require a registration fee. Details will be provided upon registration.
How can I register for the workshop?
Registration details will be available on PreparationTech’s official website and social media channels.
Will there be opportunities for networking and mentorship?
Yes, the workshop will provide opportunities to connect with AI professionals, industry experts, and fellow participants.
Conclusion
The PreparationTech and Hugging Face collaboration offers a valuable opportunity for individuals to explore AI chatbot development. This hands-on workshop empowers participants with practical skills in natural language processing and machine learning, making AI more accessible to diverse audiences. Whether you’re a beginner or an aspiring AI professional, this workshop fosters learning, networking, and innovation. With expert guidance and cutting-edge tools, attendees can build and deploy chatbots, gaining essential AI experience for future careers in technology. Don’t miss out on this transformative learning experience!
