Vibe Coding for Curious Humans: A Hands-On Workshop
Key aim
To help non-technical participants see how AI-supported tools can expand the ways they develop, present and interact with information at work.
Workshop overview
This session introduces non-coders to practical ways AI-enabled coding tools can help them process, present and share their work more effectively. Using simple examples built in Replit (or your builder of choice) the session will show how presentations, notes, dashboards and lightweight apps can become more interactive, accessible and engaging for both creators and audiences.
Bring:
your laptop
Your fave AI (Claude, Chat GPT, Perplexity for example)
A builder to test on - Replit, or Loveable and Base44 have free levels. If you really want to have a good crack it’s worth paying for a month at the lowest level so you don’t hit limits and can really see your own potential
You are also welcome to show up and watch- no pressure to build if you don’t want to
Main outcomes for participants
Better understanding of how non-engineers can use AI-supported coding tools in practical ways
Exposure to alternative formats for presentations, notes, dashboards and internal tools
Greater confidence to experiment with interactive ways of communicating and working
A stronger sense of how these approaches can support accessibility, engagement and different working styles
Feeling empowered and more independent, you don’t need to rely on engineers every time to bring your ideas to life
Format
a short demonstration of examples built in Replit
a practical walkthrough of how these kinds of tools can be created and used
a hands-on component where participants can explore ideas on their own devices
Joel Malone
Starting with a Commodore 64 in the 80s, Joel has over 2 decades of programming behind him.
With the implementation of AI, Joel’s engineering has hit new heights as he trains multiple layers of AI assistants to achieve delivery at 3 times his pre-AI output.
Joel’s unique way of thinking, leadership and EQ has made him a bit of an AI whisperer. He saw that this change brings heavy reliance on communication and managerial skills. Also, contrary to initial assumptions, Joel realised early on that attention to detail through skilled, nuanced engineering is needed now more than ever.
Karly Malone
Starting with a neurodivergent brain that wants to rage quit at the slightest technological challenge, Karly had absolutely no interest in learning to code no matter how many years Joel tried to steer her towards it.
A workshop at the AICoLab unexpectedly opened a new world where she no longer had to nag her husband to “make a thing that does that thing!”.
Two decades in support work and psychosocial recovery coaching, and the last 2 years in the Public Service has met the advent of no code building with AI in interesting, sometimes frustrating, often expensive, extraordinarily exhilarating ways.
She has started building a suite of apps around neurodivergent people understanding and supporting themselves, a few tools to support management, monitoring and evaluation and HR processes, and things that feel more like Frankenstein’s monster but were excellent learning opportunities.
Combined, Joel and Karly bring a workshop grounded through the collision of two worlds, people and machines, and multiple languages/cultures. There may also be a verbal joust or two (communication between worlds isn’t always easy) sorry in advance.
They bring lessons learned (so you don’t have to make those mistakes), big realisations about the way people, cultures, neurotypes and machines communicate and what that means, as well as leadership skills that are going to emerge as dealbreakers as AI is more integrated into work all over the world.
AI CoLab events are intentionally open and collaborative. For this session we may capture photos to share publicly. This is done in line with the Charter’s values; transparent, ethical innovation and knowledge sharing to accelerate collective learning (see join.aicolab.org). By participating in this event, you agree to being photographed and for those images to be shared in accordance with this policy.