Local advocate on how people and businesses can benefit from Artificial Intelligence
Local advocate on how people and businesses can benefit from Artificial Intelligence
Publish Date: 2026-06-17 17:20:00
Source Domain: www.nprillinois.org
Artificial intelligence is transforming the way people work, create, and solve problems—and Springfield-area AI educator Adam Gurski wants to help the community understand how to use it effectively.
Speaking on Community Voices with Randy Eccles, Gurski shared how his curiosity about AI began with early image-generation tools and evolved into using AI for coding, business automation, organization, and creative projects. He believes one of AI’s most overlooked strengths is its ability to help small businesses streamline operations and eliminate bottlenecks.
As an example, Gurski described a custom AI system he developed for a local heating and cooling company. By analyzing past estimates and reading handwritten notes, the system can automatically generate invoices and pricing proposals, saving significant time and reducing repetitive administrative work.
Beyond business applications, Gurski sees AI as a powerful tool for job seekers, artists, freelancers, and anyone looking to improve productivity. He emphasizes that AI should be viewed as a tool—not a replacement for human judgment. Human review, ethical use, and digital literacy remain essential, especially as AI-generated content becomes increasingly realistic.
While acknowledging concerns about privacy, misinformation, environmental impact, and intellectual property, Gurski believes understanding AI is becoming a critical modern skill. He predicts that in the near future, many people will have access to personal AI systems that run locally on their own devices, offering greater privacy and control.
His message is simple: learn what AI can do, understand its risks, and use it to amplify human creativity and capability.
The following was transcrived by AI with human review for readability.
Randy Eccles:
This is Community Voices in 91.9 UIS. I’m co-host Randy Eccles. Today, the neighbor we’re going to get to know is Adam Gurski. Welcome to the show, Adam.
Adam Gurski:
Thank…
