You might already be using ChatGPT, or Copilot at work. You might not have used a chat tool at all. Either way you are in the right room, and either way we set you up from scratch on the day. What Claude gives back is the reason to bother: it is built for documents, analysis and long pieces of thinking, and it returns a file you can send rather than a chat you have to tidy up.
Businesses have already moved on this. More US businesses now pay for Claude than for ChatGPT (Ramp AI Index, July 2026). Many Kiwis have never opened it.
Three and a half hours, in person, hands on throughout. This is the course we run most often and the one that fills fastest. We get you set up in Claude, then put your own job in front of it. You judge the value yourself, on work that matters to you.
Why Claude, what it is good at, and how it differs from ChatGPT and Copilot – 25 min
Getting set up properly, and writing your personal instructions · hands on – 25 min
Prompting Claude well · hands on – 35 min
Break – 10 min
Working with documents and files · hands on – 30 min
Projects, project instructions and Artifacts · hands on – 25 min
Skills, including the anti-AI writing Skill · hands on – 25 min
Connectors: plugging Claude into where your work lives · hands on – 20 min
What is next, Q&A and feedback – 15 min
Total runtime 3 hr 30 min
Do I need a Claude account, or a paid subscription?
Neither. We will help you set an account up on the day. The free plan covers everything we use: Projects, file uploads, Artifacts, Skills and connectors. What it does not give you is headroom. Usage limits reset on a rolling five-hour window, so you may hit the limit partway through. A paid account is preferable if you want to keep working without interruption.
Should I stop using ChatGPT?
No, and we will not ask you to. Most people end up using more than one, and that includes businesses: around 79 percent of companies that pay for Claude also pay for OpenAI. You will leave knowing which of your jobs belong in Claude and which are fine where they are.
What if I have never used AI before?
You can still come. Be aware that this class moves at a decent pace, so it may feel fast if you have never used a chat tool before. You will not be left behind on the setup, and there is always someone in the room to help.
Will this teach me agents and automation?
No. This course covers Skills and connectors, which is where most people start. Agents and automation sit on the next rung: Claude 2, which first ran in August 2026.
Can my whole team come together?
Yes.
This is what people were saying about the last intro to Clude workshop –
“I like the structure – it makes me feel safer to explore Claude, Simple concepts delivered effectively”
“I thought J’s presentation was excellent, very insightful and helpful course on the use of Claude AI.”
“As a newbie, just seeing what Claude can offer! So many ideas now and keen to learn more. The knowledge on how to set Claude up for my personal preferences was great too.”
“So much, working through the examples and creating an environment where people were comfortable to ask questions.”Â
“Seeing real life examples of how we will be able to use Claude within our business.”
Details: Friday 9 October 2026, 9.00am to 12.30pm. Multicultural Recreation and Community Centre, 455 Hagley Avenue. $195 incl GST
You’ll leave able to use AI in your organisation, not just talk about it.
About the presenter
J Norness is a fractional AI Officer working with businesses across New Zealand and Australia, and a volunteer lead trainer for the Nelson AI Sandbox. He has trained more than 1,100 people in the past two years, from sole operators to executive teams. His sessions are hands-on, vendor neutral and free of hype.
About the AI Sandbox
The AI Sandbox is a not-for-profit community AI hub. In March 2024 it opened the world’s first walk-in AI space in Nelson: somewhere anyone can turn up, ask questions and get hands-on help with AI, free of charge. Since then it has worked face to face with more than 6,000 people and 250 organisations across the top of the South Isaland, through drop-in sessions, workshops and outreach, now we are expanding to Christchurch.