Mesa Public Library: Where is AI in 2026 and Where is it Going?

A free, public workshop with no technical background needed

​For the last several years, AI systems have advanced at a pace that has stunned the public and even surprised leading experts. These systems are reshaping work, the economy, relationships, and even crime extremely quickly.

​This workshop will explore where AI may be in the next 1-5 years and what that means for daily life for all of us. We’ll tackle urgent and important questions like:

• ​Jobs: Could AI lead to mass unemployment or will it help create entirely new kinds of work?
• ​Crime: How might AI supercharge scams, hacking, and even crime?
• ​Companions: Will people form deep emotional bonds or even romantic relationships with AI companions?
• ​Society: How do top researchers think these trends will shape our future?

​What you’ll get:

• ​A fast-paced, beginner-friendly overview of today’s most powerful AI systems
• ​Live demos that reveal both the breakthroughs and the risk
• ​Interactive forecasting exercises where you’ll test your predictions about AI’s impact against the broader community
• ​Come ready to explore a future arriving faster than most people realize. A future that could transform not just how we work, but how we trust, connect, and even love.

Presented by the AI Safety Awareness Project

Ages 18+