From Thinking Machines to Human Minds

A non-technical introduction to AI: what it really is, how it thinks, and what it reveals about us

Boris Gorelik, Ph.D.  ·  Data science consultant and educator  ·  boris@gorelik.net

Target audience: Students from all departments  ·  No technical background required

Delivery formats

Lecture 1 hour  ·  Zoom or in person
₪4,000
Up to 150 participants
  • Understand what AI actually is, beyond the hype
  • See how AI behavior reflects human psychology
  • From mechanical calculators to modern language models: a journey through AI history
  • What emergent behavior means and why AI sometimes surprises even its creators
  • How psychological framing shapes both human and machine decision-making
  • Live demos: AI doing the unexpected, and why that matters
  • Instructor-led only, no prior knowledge of any kind required
Workshop 3 hours  ·  Zoom or in person
₪9,000
Up to 15 participants
  • Develop a critical, informed perspective on AI tools you use every day
  • Walk away with mental models that help you make better decisions with and about AI
  • Interactive exploration of how AI systems develop unexpected behaviors
  • Cognitive psychology of decision-making: how biases affect both humans and AI
  • Hands-on exercises: spotting AI failures, framing effects, and flawed outputs
  • Group discussion: what AI can and cannot do in your field of study
  • Practical frameworks for evaluating AI-generated content critically
Course 3 sessions × 3 hours
₪22,000
Up to 15 participants
  • Build genuine AI literacy, not just familiarity, but understanding
  • Be equipped to engage thoughtfully with AI in your career and civic life
  • Session 1: How AI thinks. History, breakthroughs, and failures; emergent behavior and why machines surprise us; live demos and discussion
  • Session 2: AI and human psychology. Cognitive biases, decision-making under uncertainty, how framing shapes both human and machine outputs
  • Session 3: AI in the real world. Ethical implications, societal impact, domain-specific applications, and how to stay critically informed as the field evolves
  • Students leave with a durable framework for thinking about AI, in any field

Prerequisites

No prior knowledge of programming, mathematics, or AI is required. This program is designed to be accessible and engaging for students from any academic background: engineering, humanities, business, or sciences.

Artificial intelligence is reshaping every field, not just technology. This program gives students the conceptual vocabulary and critical thinking tools to engage with AI as informed citizens and future professionals, regardless of their major.