Customizing AI

CUSTOMIZING AI:
Unlocking Real Productivity with Custom Models, AI Agents, and Precision Prompting
A Library 2.0 "AI Deep Dive" Workshop with Reed Hepler

OVERVIEW: 

This 90-minute workshop builds on the evolving landscape of AI customization, exploring how professionals can maximize AI tools for enhanced productivity in academic, library, and professional settings. In today's fast-paced, data-driven environment, the demand for efficiency and innovation has never been higher. Professionals face a flood of AI tools and lists of prompts promising productivity boosts, but the key challenge is implementing solutions that truly improve workflows with a human-centered focus.

In October 2024, we presented a session on custom AI models, such as Custom GPTs. Over the past year, these have been complemented by more advanced "AI Agents," which can execute multi-step tasks across multiple programs for complex workflows. Additionally, using generalized AI tools with tailored, specific prompts offers greater capabilities than generic interactions. Together, custom models, AI agents, and precision prompting represent the three primary methods for optimizing AI in professional contexts.

This hands-on, in-depth workshop, designed for librarians, educators, and other professionals, will guide participants through customizing AI to streamline work processes, enhance data analysis, improve communication, and manage projects more effectively. Attendees will learn the foundational principles of AI tool creation and leave with a custom model or use case that boosts productivity while emphasizing transparency and ethical responsibility. 

The workshop covers key topics, including how AI tools work, custom AI in context, and the three custom solutions and when to use each. Participants will gain practical strategies for integrating customized AI responsibly, ensuring outputs are accurate, unbiased, and ethically sound.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

  • Understand the functions and evolution of AI customization methods for professional productivity, including custom models, AI agents, and precision prompting.
  • Develop skills for assessing and implementing AI solutions that go beyond basic prompting to achieve targeted outcomes.
  • Gain insights into ethical and transparent use of customized AI tools in workflows.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Upon completing this webinar, attendees will be able to:

  • Build and fine-tune custom AI models, such as Custom GPTs, to address specific professional needs like data analysis or project management.
  • Utilize AI agents for multi-step, complex tasks across programs, while identifying when to apply each customization method.
  • Create and apply specific prompts in general AI tools for enhanced results, fostering responsible, productive, and ethical AI integration in daily work.

This 90-minute online webinar is part of our Library 2.0 AI Series. The recording and presentation slides will be available to all who register.

DATE: Tuesday, September 23rd, 2025, 2:00 - 3:30 pm US - Eastern Time

COST:

  • $129/person - includes live attendance and any-time access to the recording and the presentation slides and receiving a participation certificate. To arrange group discounts (see below), to submit a purchase order, or for any registration difficulties or questions, email admin@library20.com.

TO REGISTER: 

Email address of attendee:

Use the payment box above to register and pay. You can pay by credit card. You will receive an email within a day with information on how to attend the webinar live and how you can access the permanent webinar recording. If you are paying for someone else to attend, you'll be prompted to send an email to admin@library20.com with the name and email address of the actual attendee.

If you need to be invoiced or pay by check, if you have any trouble registering for a webinar, or if you have any questions, please email admin@library20.com.

NOTE: please check your spam folder if you don't receive your confirmation email within a day.

SPECIAL GROUP RATES (email admin@library20.com to arrange):

  • Multiple individual log-ins and access from the same organization paid together: $99 each for 3+ registrations, $75 each for 5+ registrations. Unlimited and non-expiring access for those log-ins.
  • The ability to show the webinar (live or recorded) to a group located in the same physical location or in the same virtual meeting from one log-in: $399.
  • Large-scale institutional access for viewing with individual login capability: $599 (hosted either at Learning Revolution or in Niche Academy). Unlimited and non-expiring access for those log-ins.

ALL-ACCESS PASSES: This webinar is not a part of the Library 2.0 Safe Library all-access program.

REED C. HEPLER

Reed Hepler is a digital initiatives librarian, instructional designer, artificial intelligence practitioner and consultant, and M.Ed. student at Idaho State University in the Instructional Design and Technology program. He obtained a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science, with emphases in Archives Management and Digital Curation, from Indiana University. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in History with minors in Anthropology and Religious Studies as well as a Museum Certificate. He has worked at nonprofits, corporations, and educational institutions encouraging information literacy and effective education. Combining all of these degrees and experiences, Reed strives to promote ethical librarianship and educational initiatives.

Currently, Reed works as a Digital Initiatives Librarian at a college in Idaho and also has his own consulting firm, heplerconsulting.com. His views and projects can be seen on his LinkedIn page or his blog, CollaborAItion, on Substack. Contact him at reed.hepler@gmail.com for more information.