Meeting #1 - The AI Landscape — What's Out There and How to Get Started
Note: We are currently looking for a location to have our meetings. If you know anyone in the Bedford, NH area, please let us know! An introductory session covering the current AI landscape in early 2026. We'll walk through the major AI vendors, what tools are available for free vs. paid, and practical use cases ranging from asking simple questions to creating images, writing code, and building real applications. No prior AI experience required — just bring a phone or laptop and a willingness to explore.
About this meetup
Artificial intelligence isn't just for tech companies anymore — it's in your phone, your email, your search results, and your daily workflow. But with so many tools, companies, and buzzwords flying around, it can be hard to know where to start. In this first meeting of the New Hampshire AI Meetup, we'll cut through the noise and give you a clear, honest picture of the AI landscape as it stands today. You'll leave knowing exactly which tools exist, what they cost (many are free!), and what you can actually do with them — starting tonight.
You'll walk away with:
- A simple map of the most common AI tools (chat, images, video, automation)
- Which tools are free vs paid — and which are worth trying
- Real examples of what you can start using tonight
- A mental model for keeping up as the space changes
This meetup is for you if you…
- Feel behind on AI and want a clear starting point
- Are curious but overwhelmed by tools and hype
- Want practical examples, not theory
Not for you if you're looking for deep ML math, architecture, or enterprise strategy only.
Agenda (120 minutes)
Agenda (120 minutes)
1. Welcome & Introductions (10 min)
- Who we are and why we started the NH AI Meetup
- Quick audience check: What do you already know? What do you want to learn?
2. What Is AI, Really? (10 min)
- AI in plain English — no jargon, no hype
- The difference between AI, machine learning, and large language models (LLMs)
- Why 2025–2026 changed everything
3. The Major AI Vendors (20 min)
A tour of the companies and products shaping the AI world right now:
| Vendor | Key Product(s) | Free Tier? | Paid Plans |
| OpenAI | ChatGPT, GPT-4o, DALL·E | Yes — ChatGPT Free | Plus ~$20/mo, Pro ~$200/mo |
| Google | Gemini, NotebookLM | Yes — Gemini Free | Gemini Advanced ~$20/mo |
| Anthropic | Claude | Yes — Claude Free | Pro ~$20/mo, Team ~$30/user |
| Microsoft | Copilot (in Windows, Edge, Office) | Yes — Copilot Free | Copilot Pro ~$20/mo, M365 Copilot ~$30/user |
| Meta | Llama (open source) | Yes — fully open | Free to run locally |
| Perplexity | Perplexity AI (search-focused) | Yes — Free tier | Pro ~$20/mo |
| Midjourney | Midjourney (image generation) | No free tier | Starts at ~$10/mo |
| xAI | Grok | Yes — Free on X | Premium with X subscription |
4. Free vs. Paid — What Do You Actually Get? (15 min)
- What free tiers include and where they cut you off
- When it's worth paying (and when it's not)
- The best free tools to start with today:
- ChatGPT Free — general questions, writing, brainstorming
- Google Gemini Free — research, long documents, image generation
- Claude Free — thoughtful writing, analysis, coding help
- Microsoft Copilot Free — built into Windows and Edge
- NotebookLM — upload documents and get an AI expert on your own files
- Perplexity Free — AI-powered search with source citations
5. Use Cases: From Simple to Advanced (25 min)
What can you actually do with these tools? We'll walk through real examples at every level:
Beginner — Just Asking Questions
- Get answers to everyday questions (like a smarter Google)
- Summarize long articles or emails
- Explain confusing topics in simple terms
- Get recipe ideas, travel tips, recommendations
Intermediate — Creating Content
- Write and edit emails, letters, social media posts
- Generate images for projects or fun (DALL·E, Gemini, Midjourney)
- Create presentations and outlines
- Translate languages in real-time
- Organize notes, to-do lists, and schedules
Advanced — Building & Automating
- Write and debug code (Python, JavaScript, HTML, etc.)
- Build simple apps and websites with AI assistance
- Analyze spreadsheets and data
- Automate repetitive tasks with AI agents
- Use AI coding assistants (GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Claude Code)
6. Live Demo & Hands-On Time (20 min)
- Side-by-side comparison: Ask the same question to ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude
- Try generating an image
- Upload a document to NotebookLM
- Audience tries it on their own devices — we help you get started
7. Q&A and Open Discussion (10 min)
- Your questions answered
- What topics should we cover next?
- How to stay connected with the group
Key Takeaways
- You don't need to pay anything to start using AI today. ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Copilot, and Perplexity all have useful free tiers.
- Different tools have different strengths. ChatGPT is the all-rounder, Gemini is great for research and images, Claude excels at writing and analysis, Perplexity is best for sourced search.
- AI isn't magic — it's a tool. Like any tool, it works best when you know how to use it. Learning to write good prompts is the single most important skill.
- You don't need to be technical. Most AI tools work through simple conversation — just type what you need in plain English.
- Privacy matters. Free tiers may use your data for training. We'll discuss what that means and how to protect yourself.
Resources
- ChatGPT: chat.openai.com
- Google Gemini: gemini.google.com
- Claude: claude.ai
- Microsoft Copilot: copilot.microsoft.com
- Perplexity: perplexity.ai
- NotebookLM: notebooklm.google.com
- Midjourney: midjourney.com
Meeting Details
| Meeting | #1 — The AI Landscape |
| Date | TBD |
| Time | TBD |
| Location | New Hampshire (venue TBD) |
| Duration | ~2 hours |
| Cost | Free |
| What to Bring | A phone, tablet, or laptop |
New Hampshire AI Meetup — Practical AI, built together. *Website: nh-ai-meetup.com
Speakers
Tom
Meetup Organizer
Meetup Organizer · Focused on practical, real-world AI use
Questions about the meetup?
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slides