2,000+ professionals are already leading with AI.
Help us reach the next 5,000.
The Center for Practical AI is a 501(c)3 nonprofit equipping people with the literacy and fluency to critically engage with AI through cohort programs, community events, and partnerships nationwide.
Funder or sponsor? View our impact report →
Our Impact
AI is reshaping every industry.
Most people aren't ready.
By 2030, an estimated 85 million jobs globally will be displaced by automation, and 97 million new roles will emerge requiring AI fluency. Industries from healthcare to finance are being transformed faster than the workforce can adapt.
Awareness isn't enough. People need practical skills, critical thinking frameworks, and a community to learn alongside. That's the gap CPAI was built to close. Not just in boardrooms, but in every neighborhood, classroom, and organization.
"The question is no longer whether AI will change your work. It's whether your workforce will be ready when it does."
How We Create Change
Three interlocking strategies that together build a more AI-literate world.
Educate
We deliver structured, hands-on AI learning through a progression of programs, from first-exposure events and cohorts to our flagship AI Proficiency Certification. Designed for real working adults, not just tech professionals.
Convene
We bring together professionals, policymakers, educators, and curious minds through Community Events, creating the cross-sector conversations every community needs about AI's impact.
Advocate
We champion equitable access to AI literacy, making sure the benefits of this technology reach every community, not just those already in tech.
Real Skills. Real Community.
Our programs form a learning pathway from first exposure to full proficiency. We meet you where you are.
Community ProgramFor women professionals in the Research Triangle
Women's AI Education
A free, community-based cohort that builds AI awareness and early competency. Participants leave able to understand, use, and speak confidently about AI in their field.
Community SeriesFor professionals, policymakers & curious minds
Community Events
Monthly in-person and virtual events spanning AI ethics, tools, industry applications, and policy. A low-barrier entry point for anyone starting to engage with AI.
APCFlagship ★For professionals ready to go all the way
AI Proficiency Certification
Our flagship certification and the top of our learning pathway. Where our other programs build awareness and competency, the APC takes you to proficiency across six domains.
Voices From Our Community
From participants to partners to funders. Here's the impact CPAI is having.
CPAI didn't just teach me about AI. It gave me a framework for thinking critically about it. I left the APC cohort able to have confident conversations with our technical teams and make better decisions for our organization.
Partnering with CPAI has been one of the highest-ROI community investments we've made. They run a tight, professional operation, and the participants they develop are exactly the kind of AI-literate talent our region needs.
As a funder, we look for organizations that can demonstrate community trust and programmatic rigor. CPAI has both. They're filling a gap no one else in NC is addressing at this scale.
* Quotes are representative of feedback received. Names withheld at respondents' request.
Building AI Literacy Together
We collaborate with institutions, government agencies, universities, and community organizations nationwide.
Interested in partnering? Get in touch →
Watch What We’re Building Together.
AI for Women: Practical & Empowered
December 2025
AI for Women Conference
A full-day conference for women professionals to explore AI tools, hear from expert speakers, and connect with a community of peers. Hosted by the Center for Practical AI.
Upcoming Events
Three Ways to Make an Impact
Whether you're a foundation, a company, or someone who just wants to show up, there's a role for you in this work.
Fund Our Work
Your investment directly funds programs for professionals who otherwise couldn't access AI education. CPAI is a 501(c)3 nonprofit and all donations are tax-deductible.
Become a Partner
Co-sponsor events, host cohort graduates, provide in-kind resources, or collaborate on custom training. We offer flexible partnership structures for organizations of every size.
Join Our Community
Attend events, apply to a cohort, volunteer as a mentor, or simply follow along. Every person who shows up makes this movement stronger.
Center for Practical AI is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. EIN: 99-0976974
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