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The longest table logo above three circles showing photos of last year's participants.

Make Your Reservation for The Longest Table

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The longest table logo above three circles showing photos of last year's participants.

Saturday, September 30
Howard Community College
Social Hour: 5 pm
Dinner: 6 pm

Purchase tickets: $15
students: $10

There are many caring, inspirational people living in Howard County. – 2022 participant

There is a place at our table for you! The Longest Table returns to Howard Community College as an opportunity to meet new people and share a meal. The guided conversation is an authentic, engaging, and meaningful way to discuss issues important to our community. Last year, we talked about our inspirations, as well as hunger, housing, and other vital topics.

The evening begins with a social hour, allowing people to mix and mingle with friends, colleagues, and other participants before sitting at the long tables. If you are comfortable with the idea, we ask that you sit at a table with people you don’t already know. It’s the best way to have a wide variety of experiences and ideas present for each group.

Research shows that, “intentionally setting aside time and space to eat with others creates a place for community members to dialogue and share with each other. Community members feel like they have a voice and a stake in their community whether they share nourishing food, or nourishing wisdom.”*

Be nourished by dinner and your neighbors’ wisdom at The Longest Table.

Everyone, high school age and up, is welcome.

Thank you to our sponsors:

  • Gold: Friends and Foundation of Howard County Library System, Howard Hughes Corporation
  • In-Kind: Howard Community College

*Katz, Rebecca, “Passing the Salt: How Eating Together Creates Community” (2012). Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects. Paper 351. http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/stu_hon_theses/351

The image shows a robot seated at table, reading written materials placed in front of it. A chair is off to the side of the table and a smaller table with a lamp is in the background.

Byte-Sized Intelligence: A Crash Course on AI

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The image shows a robot seated at table, reading written materials placed in front of it. A chair is off to the side of the table and a smaller table with a lamp is in the background.

by Sahana C.

Thursday, April 20 at 7 pm
In person; Savage Branch
Register

Libraries have come a long way – from a time when including a table of contents was the most innovative, revolutionary advancement in conducting research to the advent of search engines. How we interact with information, how we keep ourselves informed, and how we use the tools at our disposal have all evolved.  

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the next wave of that evolution. Though it’s the subject of many science fiction novels, its real-world applications are wildly interesting. Artificial Intelligence refers to the development of computer systems that can perform tasks that would typically require human intelligence. These tasks may include speech recognition, image analysis, and decision-making. AI is already being used in a variety of fields, from healthcare to transportation, and its potential applications are only growing. 

Savage Branch is having a crash course and conversation about the fascinating world of AI on Thursday, April 20. We plan to explore the basics of AI, looking at what it is, how it’s used, and its potential impacts on society. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or just someone who’s interested in staying up-to-date on the latest technological advancements, there’s something for you! 

In our AI class, you’ll learn about the different types of AI and their real-life examples. For example, machine learning is a type of AI that allows computer systems to learn and improve from experience, without being explicitly programmed. Deep learning is another type of AI that uses neural networks to process and analyze large amounts of data. We’ll also explore natural language processing, which enables computers to understand and interpret human language. 

But it’s not just about the technical aspects of AI. We’ll also delve into the ethical considerations surrounding AI, such as bias and privacy concerns. As AI becomes more integrated into our daily lives, it’s essential to evaluate the potential impact on society and address these issues. 

Our AI class is designed for anyone who wants to learn about this exciting and rapidly evolving field, regardless of technical background or experience. Our experienced instructors guide you through the basics of AI in a clear, structured, and informative manner. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore one of the most transformative technologies of our time. 

The possibilities of Artificial Intelligence appear to be limitless. And what’s more – some of this blog post was generated by AI. I asked it to analyze my other writing to create a blog post on this class in my style, and I think it did a decent job. Did you catch anything that felt off? If you want to learn more, to discuss how this is possible, or just play with the possible applications, join us at Savage on April 20 to learn more. 

Sahana is an Instructor and Research Specialist at the Savage Branch. They enjoy adding books to their “want to read” list despite having a mountain of books waiting for them already.