This introductory session provides a clear, nontechnical overview of artificial intelligence and how it is being used today. The lecture begins with a simple explanation of what AI is, how it works at a high level, and where it is commonly encountered in everyday life. Practical benefits are balanced with a discussion of current concerns, limitations, and the safeguards being developed to address them. The class then uses ChatGPT as a real-world example of a publicly accessible large language model, comparing basic features available in the free version with expanded capabilities in the paid version, including image generation. Participants see how AI can assist with idea generation, processing large amounts of information, refining and correcting text, and creating images. The goal is to build understanding, reduce uncertainty, and provide practical context rather than technical depth.