RSGB 2026 Convention workshop – AI: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

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AI: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

We anticipate this workshop being highly popular and so are planning to run it on both days.

Saturday 13:45 to 15:45 (exact timing tbc)

Sunday 10:30 to 12:30 (exact timing tbc)

This workshop will be run by RSGB Board Director and Google Certified AI Professional Mark Jones, G0MGX.

What can I expect?

Designed to be a practical and thought-provoking workshop for radio amateurs, makers, and home constructors who want to understand what AI really is, what it is good at, where it can go wrong, and why it matters. Using plain English and real examples from personal projects, the workshop will show how large language models can act as useful thinking partners for learning, writing, coding, and building.

The session covers the basics of Large Language Models (LLMs), the art of prompting, and how simple tools such as Markdown can make AI more effective. It then moves into a hands-on case study showing how AI was used to help develop embedded software for a MAX2870-based project using Arduino, STM32, and a touchscreen interface.

Finally, the workshop steps back and looks at the wider picture: the risks, limits, and longer-term questions around AGI, superintelligence, and control. Expect a balanced look at both the opportunities and the concerns, aimed at helping attendees use AI more confidently and more critically.

What will I gain?

You will leave with a clearer, more practical understanding of what AI can and cannot do, and how to use it effectively in your own projects. You will learn simple techniques for prompting AI well, structuring information with Markdown, and using AI as a tool for learning, writing, problem-solving, and even supporting embedded software development.

Just as importantly, you’ll come away with a more critical view of the risks, limitations, and wider implications of AI, helping you use it with both confidence and caution.

How can I take part?

This RSGB member-only workshop will run on both Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 October and costs £15.

You need to pre-book as spaces are limited to just 20 people per session.

Participants need to bring along a laptop with Wi-Fi, plus an open mind!

Ready to book?