A plain-language, hands-on day for people, teams, and businesses. You’ll set up the two big AI tools, use them on your own real work, draft your organisation’s AI policy in the room, and leave with a prioritised plan for what to do next. No prior experience needed.

When: Friday 26 June 2026, 9:00am to 3:00pm

Where:  Pūtangitangi Greenmeadows Centre, Stoke, Nelson

General admission: $250 incl. GST

Book your place

What this day is:

Most of us have poked at ChatGPT. Far fewer have a working setup, a clear sense of what’s safe to put in, and a plan for where AI actually earns its keep. That gap is what this day closes.

AI in Action is six hours, seven stops. You’ll build a working mental model of generative AI, learn a simple test for what’s safe to share with these tools, and get properly hands on with ChatGPT and Claude using four real use cases you can repeat. In the afternoon you’ll draft a real first version of your AI policy, look at the wider toolset beyond the big two, then score your own ideas and pick the quick wins.

You’ll work on your own tasks, not made-up examples. Bring a laptop and one job that eats your time every week. We’ll do the rest.

The day, stop by stop:

1. Generative AI. What it is, how it works, and four useful ways to think about it.
2. Privacy, safety and security. The four risks actually worth worrying about, a simple test before you paste anything in, and seven rules worth printing.
3. ChatGPT and Claude, hands on. A tour of both tools, four real use cases, and the prompting framework that does most of the work.
4. Your AI policy. A real first draft, written in the room, ready to refine with your team.
5. The wider toolset. Agents, meeting notes, voice, images, video, and where to look when you want more.
6. Prioritise and plan. Score every idea on impact, confidence, and effort. Start where the wins are.
7. Next steps. People first, then data, and how the Sandbox supports you after the day.

Who it’s for:

Individuals, business owners, managers, team members, and not-for-profit staff who want to use AI properly at work. You don’t need any prior experience, and there are no silly questions. If you’ve already dabbled, the day will turn scattered experiments into a working system.

It’s not for developers or experienced AI practitioners looking for advanced technique. We will not building agents or using Claude CoWork Our intermediate and advanced workshops are the better fit there.

What you’ll leave with:

– Working accounts and settings in ChatGPT and Claude, configured the way you’ll actually use them
– A prompting framework you can apply to any task, plus seven everyday prompts worth keeping
– A simple test for what’s safe to put into an AI tool, and what never is
– A first draft of your organisation’s AI policy
– A scored, prioritised list of where AI will save you time first
– A clear plan for your next 90 days, with Sandbox support along the way

Bring a laptop, and one task from your week you’d happily hand to someone else.

FAQ

Do I need any AI experience?
No. The day is entry level by design. If you’ve never opened ChatGPT, you’ll be fine. If you have, you’ll leave with structure around what you’ve been doing.

Do I need paid AI accounts?
No. We’ll demonstrate some paid tools, but free accounts are enough to take part, and we’ll help you set them up on the day.

I’m a sole trader. Is the AI policy part still relevant?
Yes. Your policy becomes the rulebook for you, your contractors, and anyone you hire next. It’s also what clients are starting to ask to see if you consult.

What if I can’t make this date?
AI in Action runs regularly. The next session after 26 June is Friday 7 August 2026. Join the newsletter and we’ll let you know when dates open.

More than 6,000 people have walked through our doors since March 2024. We’ll figure out what works for you, too.

Nelson AI Sandbox provides AI education and information only. We do not provide professional advice. AI tools may produce inaccurate, biased or inappropriate outputs and may raise privacy, confidentiality, intellectual property, security and compliance risks. Users are responsible for assessing suitability and legality before using any AI tool, workflow or output. Liability is excluded to the maximum extent permitted by New Zealand law.