AI Literacy: Working Effectively with Large Language Models

Please read:  By the end of this training, participants will be able to: - Explain, at a high level, how large language models work and how they differ from traditional software tools - Recognize appropriate and inappropriate uses of AI in everyday work - Structure effective prompts using clear roles, tasks, inputs, and desired outputs - Guide AI responses by shaping tone, voice, and context - Iterate on AI-generated outputs to improve clarity, relevance, and usefulness -Use large language models more intentionally, responsibly, and confidently as collaborative work tools This course is part of a statewide education effort developed through a collaboration between the University of Iowa’s Institute for Iowa’s Initiative for Artificial Intelligence (IIAI), Iowa State University’s Translational Artificial Intelligence Center (TrAC), and CIRAS (the Center for Industrial Research and Service at Iowa State University). Continental Breakfast & Lunch Provided Meet the Trainer | Paul Gormley works with business leaders to turn emerging technologies—particularly artificial intelligence—into practical, repeatable ways of improving how work actually gets done. Over 27 years with Iowa State University’s Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS), he has partnered with companies on innovation, digital marketing, and AI adoption, helping teams move from curiosity to clear priorities and operational use. Paul’s work sits at the intersection of technology, process, and people. With training in both engineering and business, he brings a systematic approach to business problems—breaking complex challenges into usable components, evaluating tradeoffs, and focusing on adoption rather than theory. His day-to-day work centers on helping organizations integrate AI into existing workflows that support sales, marketing, and growth without disrupting what already works. Beyond his direct client work, Paul helps shape AI capability more broadly across Iowa. He leads partner coordination for AI4Iowa, a statewide workforce AI training effort bringing together CIRAS, TrAC at Iowa State University, the University of Iowa’s IIAI, community colleges, and industry partners. He also serves as Director of the Iowa Artificial Intelligence Summit for Industry, working with business and technical leaders to ground emerging capabilities in real business needs and accelerate meaningful adoption.