TechTown AI Build Night events drive workforce innovation, digital literacy in Detroit

The world blinked, and artificial intelligence (AI) went from the future to the present.

With recent research from IBM showing the rapidity of enterprise-scale AI adoption, basic digital proficiency is no longer enough for small businesses and emerging professionals to stay competitive-advanced AI skills are now the key to innovation, scale and success

The question is: Where to go to become AI-competent? In Detroit, the answer is TechTown.

In February, Wayne State University's entrepreneurship hub launched free, monthly "AI Build Night" events, where attendees can expand their digital literacy and connect with others in the community. Originally established for tech founders, product builders and developers with some AI experience, the series has grown to include more beginner-friendly "101" events for traditional small business owners, students and recent graduates, and anyone interested in the technology.

Though the Build Nights are just four months old, they are already outgrowing the space available at TechTown and the Wayne State Industry Innovation Center.

"TechTown is making our space accessible and opening our doors to everyone to come and feel comfortable, scale an idea and take part in something great," said TechTown's Nicholas Slappey, senior program manager of tech-based programs. "They're recognizing that this is an inviting space-that they don't have to feel intimidated by coming to Midtown or into this building, because the people here want to see them succeed."

"TechTown wants to be the leader not just for entry-level, ideation-stage founders, but for anyone who wants to learn about and get better with AI," said TechTown's Mario Tapia-Preza, program coordinator for tech-based programs.

Meeting the need for AI literacy

The sudden ubiquity of AI has created a digital divide. While some tech-forward developers can navigate new software, many traditional business owners face a steep learning curve. This gap creates generational disconnects within organizations and leaves smaller, local businesses vulnerable to displacement by larger, tech-enabled competitors. Yet research from Salesforce indicates people want to learn: 70% of non-users say they would use generative AI more if they understood it better.

TechTown's Build Night events bridge this gap by catering to both audiences through two distinct formats:

• "Standard" Build Nights: Centered around one thing - building. Designed to enable rapid prototyping, attendees learn advanced strategies such as debugging and prompting for full-stack development. The evening ends with a live demo where builders showcase their work to their peers. All attendees get access to free credits to AI platforms such as Lovable and Claude Code, as well as guidance from ecosystem experts.
• Build Night 101: Born from a strong demand for beginner-level content, these sessions focus on low- and no-code tools to demystify AI. Attendees learn basic workflow optimization, discovering how automation can eliminate repetitive tasks, simplify data analysis and visualization, and streamline daily business operations.

"The free credits are one of our biggest draws, alongside the fact that we have up to 10 'build engineers' present," Tapia-Preza said. "If anyone has questions, concerns or doesn't know how to start, an expert is always there to help."

"This is a safe environment where attendees can learn and ask all the questions they want without feeling left behind," Slappey said. "We're building technical skills and community from the ground up, with an emphasis on connection."

Ashley Crockett, who attended the May 14 Build Night 101 session, echoed this sentiment. "Spaces like this are so important because it shows people that even if you don't feel 'technical,' you still have somewhere to grow and learn. When you have these mentors and these tools at your disposal, it makes it a lot less intimidating to show up."

Powering the region's workforce

The Build Nights' rapid rise highlights Detroit's demand for AI literacy and the university's role in driving the city's workforce. Around 200 people signed up for the first Build Night in February, and that momentum has only continued since, with the series drawing nearly 1,000 unique registrations in just five events.

The influx of participants has brought together a unique blend of university and community talent. Wayne State students mix with local business owners and seasoned experts to complete work that would have previously required months or years of specialized training.

For the Wayne State-based students and researchers who represent the region's future workforce, the Build Nights provide immediate solutions to immediate needs: compressing timelines, accelerating research, and freeing time to experiment and explore.

"Learning AI is like learning a new language - repetition and constant practice are key. That is what makes these Build Nights so valuable," said Wayne State alumnus Dr. Mario Cornejo '24. "They give the community the opportunity to learn about something that will be incorporated into jobs of every level and discipline. The leaders at TechTown are sharing information and equipping people in ways that will make a difference for everyone."

Cornejo, who works in a mass spectrometry lab, said the events have helped him reinforce his AI fundamentals and unlock new possibilities in his work.

"We generate a lot of data, and it is hard to do everything on our own without a background in coding. AI makes it much faster to process data," he said. "I use it to help process our data faster through coding algorithms that would have otherwise taken another Ph.D.-level skill set in coding to obtain."

And on a different level, the Build Nights have reinforced his sense of community and allowed him to use AI tools more intentionally and creatively.

"I am a big supporter of these events because they have really helped me," he said. "I talk constantly about what is going on at TechTown."

Building the infrastructure to execute

As the global workforce faces this rapid evolution-with the World Economic Forum estimating that 44% of workers' skills will be disrupted over the next five years-the Build Nights are addressing vital needs and acting as a pipeline into TechTown's broader technology-based programs like Scale Studio and Start Studio ID.

And TechTown continues to expand its AI education portfolio. Tapia-Preza noted it is preparing to launch "Refuel," a monthly afternoon event from 1 to 5 p.m. at the TechTown Garage and cafeteria fueling station designed for a less structured, self-directed building environment.

"For Refuel, we're removing the facilitator and simply having people show up," Tapia-Preza said. "They won't have to worry about arriving early for a lecture or food. They can just come out, code, build and make connections."

Slappey said the diversity of attendees-a group truly representative of Detroit-is what he and the team are most proud of.

"The most satisfying part about it is the diversity in the room. We've had students, whole families, business owners, you name it," he said. "I've even had one-on-one conversations with an 88-year-old man - a war veteran. He and his wife have not missed a single Build Night, and they stay right until the end every time. That shows the demand that's out there in the community and the trust folks have in TechTown and Wayne State to create a dynamic, engaging space that works for everyone."

The Build Nights are lowering financial and technological barriers to success for the Detroit community while providing direct access to industry experts and a proven ecosystem for innovation, growth and success.

In all, TechTown is ensuring everyone has the power to harness the digital transformation poised to shape the future of the city, state and region.

To see workshop schedules and register for upcoming events, explore TechTown's event portal.

Looking to connect with Wayne State? Reach out to WSU OPEN - the easiest, fastest way to start accessing the university's top-tier talent, knowledge and resources.