Colorado Springs Apple Group
Serving all of Southern Colorado
Colorado Springs Apple Group
Serving all of Southern Colorado
General Meeting Notes - 11/10/25
“Artificial Intelligence” by Mark Griffith & Jim Johnson
The meeting began with discussions about managing Zoom meetings and exploring alternative software options like Affinity, along with updates on board meeting procedures and upcoming events. The group reviewed various administrative matters including meeting notifications, door prizes, and election processes for the December annual meeting. The conversation ended with an extensive presentation on AI technology, covering its capabilities, limitations, and practical applications in both professional and everyday contexts.
Next steps
Guy: Cancel the library room reservation for the January general meeting
Paul Weber: Lead the election process at the December annual meeting
Jim and Paul Weber: Meet before the December meeting to prepare for election process
Jim: Send Paul Weber a replacement $10 gift card
Jim: Check MailChimp to verify Bobby and Guy are on the meeting notification list
Ralph: Receive and distribute Mark's AI presentation slides to members
Affinity and Zoom Management Insights
Jim discussed the challenges of managing Zoom meetings, including the need to manually admit participants and the potential for unauthorized entry. He also shared his experience with Affinity, a cost-effective alternative to Adobe Creative Suite, highlighting its integrated features and user-friendly interface. Jim mentioned rumors about upcoming Mac machines and expressed frustration with autofocus issues on his camera. The conversation touched on the transition from Adobe to alternative software, with Jim recommending Affinity to others.
Meeting Updates and Board Changes
The group discussed the cancellation of the January general meeting and confirmed that the SIG meeting would be held on Saturday. Jim mentioned changes to the board meeting notice requirements, updating it to 40 hours notice delivered personally by telephone or email. Bobby raised a question about not receiving meeting notifications, which Jim agreed to investigate. The conversation concluded with a brief mention of a recent SIG meeting that focused on Photos.
Photo Mystery and December Events
The group discussed photo sharing issues and a mystery involving shared photos appearing on a different machine. They reviewed upcoming events, including a December holiday party and annual meeting on December 8th at the Mule Train, where elections and bylaw amendments will be held. Jim announced that Rich Voelker won't be available for the December meeting, so Paul Weber will handle the election process, while Linnea will manage the recording.
Board Nominations and Prize Updates
The meeting discussed board nominations and election procedures, with Jim explaining that directors at large positions are available and self-nominations are accepted. The group reviewed upcoming door prizes, including Apple AirTags, MetaPin, USB extension cables, and other items, with Jim noting they may need to add Christmas presents later. Paul raised a concern about not receiving a $10 gift card prize from a previous meeting, which Jim promised to follow up on. The conversation ended with a discussion about iOS 16, where Jim and others explained how it significantly enhances iPad functionality, and Skip shared his positive experience with Apple support without AppleCare.
iPhone Purchase and Trade-in Options
Bobby discussed his difficulty in finding the new iPhone Pro model and explored options to purchase it, including using ID.me for a 10% discount. Jim suggested checking the Southlake Apple Store, closer to Bobby's location, and explained the process of trading in his current phone for credit. Bobby considered the convenience of home delivery and decided to look into the Southlake store option.
AI Advancements and Prompt Engineering
Jim and Mark presented an updated AI presentation, highlighting advancements since their last sharing in July 2024. They discussed AI as a powerful digital assistant capable of planning meals, vacations, budgets, and even writing lottery-winning numbers. The speakers emphasized the importance of using specific and context-rich prompts to achieve accurate results, while warning about AI hallucinations, where algorithms generate false information. They also touched on the growing field of prompt engineering and shared examples of AI tools like Gemini integrated into Google and government-developed AI systems.
AI Tools in Engineering Design
Mark shared his experience using AI tools like ChatGPT and DALL-E to create hybrid car designs, emphasizing the importance of being specific with prompts and verifying outputs. He discussed the potential risks and limitations of AI, including hallucinations, data sensitivity, and over-reliance, while also highlighting responsible AI use in professional settings. Jim addressed concerns about AI's impact on jobs and its future development, mentioning Apple's current reliance on third-party AI models and its plans to catch up. He encouraged attendees to experiment with AI tools, start small, and verify results to ensure ethical and effective use.
AI Browser Tools Demo
Jim demonstrated various AI browsers and tools, including Comet and Atlas, showcasing their capabilities for tasks like online shopping, research, and language learning. He highlighted the differences between traditional search engines and AI agents, emphasizing the efficiency and time-saving features of AI browsers. The group discussed the potential of AI in everyday tasks and its impact on employment, with Jim noting that corporations are reducing research roles due to AI advancements. The conversation ended with a brief discussion about upcoming events and a raffle for small prizes.
AI can make mistakes. Review for accuracy.
Gotta love this final remark of this AI-generated summary of our program on AI!!!
