There’s a quiet urgency buzzing beneath the rhythms of New Orleans.
It’s not just the call of a brass band —it’s the sound of the future.
And it’s powered by artificial intelligence.
AI isn’t coming. It’s already here. The question is:
Will New Orleans lead this transformation—or fall further behind?
The Risk of Inaction
New Orleans has always been a city of innovation and reinvention. From creating our own music, food and holiday to post-Katrina building a grassroots entrepreneurial ecosystem, we’ve proven again and again that resilience and creativity are in our DNA.
But this next technology wave—powered by AI—is moving faster than anything we’ve seen before:
55% of global companies now use AI in at least one business function, up from just 20% five years ago (McKinsey, 2023).
ChatGPT reached 100M users in 2 months, making it the fastest-growing app in history (OpenAI).
AI-related job postings—roles like AI Strategist, Prompt Engineer, and Machine Learning Consultant—are up 75% year-over-year, even in non-tech industries (LinkedIn, 2024).
Gartner predicts that by 2026, 80% of organizations will have a formal AI strategy—up from just 10% in 2021.
This isn’t a trickle. The walls have been cracked.
And if New Orleans doesn’t engage now, we risk being locked out of the next era of economic growth, workforce opportunity, and cultural leadership.
Clearly, we risk letting others define the future without us.
Here are five reasons why AI can be good for New Orleans:
1. AI Is About Freeing Us To Be More Creative.
AI can free us from the grind of administrative tasks, allowing us to spend more time where it matters most—building genuine human connections. From small business owners to artists, educators to nonprofit leaders, AI gives us the ability to stop drowning in repetitive work and start focusing on what we do best: thinking, creating, caring, and connecting.
If AI can handle more of the mundane, we could see a new renaissance of humanity—one where we can be more present, creative, and impactful.
New Orleans can lead here. We always have.
2. AI Can Strengthen Human Connection
We are not Silicon Valley. We are New Orleans.
We have something more powerful than any city in the world: a culture of human connection rooted in rhythm, ritual, and relationships.
Imagine a future where people have more time for each other. Maybe that means more time spent in places like New Orleans, where human connection is a way of life. Tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Notebook LM, and ElevenLabs can help New Orleanians elevate service, personalize learning, and tell more powerful stories. When used well, they give people the most valuable asset of all: time to connect.
3. AI Can Protect and Amplify Our Culture
New Orleans thrives on storytelling, music, food, and history—expressions that deserve to be preserved and shared with the world. AI tools like voice synthesis, translation, and generative design can help musicians digitize their sound, elders document oral histories, chefs archive family recipes, and artists remix tradition for global audiences. With AI, we don’t just protect our culture—we amplify it.
4. AI Can Help Us Solve Local Problems—Our Way
Whether it’s making housing more affordable, improving storm response, or navigating the healthcare system, New Orleans faces complex challenges. AI gives us new tools to understand patterns, test solutions, and serve people faster and more equitably—if we build it with local values in mind.
Imagine if local nonprofits could use AI to identify grant opportunities, or if neighborhood groups could crowdsource data to improve transit access. With the right guidance, we can use AI to strengthen—not replace—our systems of care.
5. The Future Economy Depends on It—And We Deserve a Seat at the Table
AI is not just a tool. It’s the foundation of the next economy. Job growth, investment, and new industries are already taking shape around it.
But here’s the truth: if New Orleans isn’t building with AI, we’ll be left out.
AI doesn’t have to replace jobs—it can unlock better ones. But only if we start preparing now.
We have the talent. We have the creativity. What we need is a collective effort to build fluency, strategy, and opportunity.
Are We Ready?
Despite growing awareness, most organizations still feel stuck at the starting line:
79% of companies say AI is a business priority, yet only 23% have moved beyond pilot programs (McKinsey, 2023).
42% say they’re exploring AI but don’t know where to start (IBM, 2023).
In other words, people are curious—but they need help activating it.
What You Can Do This Week to Start Using AI
You don’t need to be a tech expert to begin. AI is already here, and the best way to understand it is to use it. Here are some easy and impactful ways to start:
Try ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or Notebook LM
Spend 15 minutes experimenting with an AI assistant.
Train your chatbot to know you. Think of AI as a copilot in your pocket—always learning, always helping you focus on what matters.
Pro tip: Ask it to help you rewrite your bio, outline a project, or summarize a document. Start feeding it your own information—like your website, resume, or work habits.
Join (or start) a local AI learning group
Across the city, small groups are gathering to learn and explore AI together. Don’t see one? Start your own at a library, coffee shop, or coworking space.
Check out: meetup.com, Eventbrite, or ask Nieux Society for help connecting with others.
Bring AI into your daily workflow
Pick one challenge in your work and ask: “Could AI help with this?”
Try it on:
Brainstorming campaign ideas
Drafting emails or proposals
Summarizing meetings
Doing market research
Planning a community event
Test AI for a personal goal
Want to plan a trip? Launch a side hustle? Write a memoir? Build a budget?
Use ChatGPT to map out steps, create timelines, or generate names and ideas. AI can be your creative assistant and accountability buddy.
Explore Free Tutorials and Courses
There’s no shortage of excellent (and free) resources to help you get started with AI. Some great places to begin:
Google’s AI Essentials- – a beginner-friendly overview of how AI works
OpenAI’s ChatGPT Guides- – practical tips for using generative AI effectively
Khan Academy on AI in education- – how AI can support learning and teaching
LinkedIn Learning: Intro to AI Tools- – bite-sized lessons on AI in the workplace
Join the Local Movement: Think Nieux
Prefer to learn through conversation, community, and hands-on practice? That’s why we created Think Nieux—a New Orleans-based initiative designed to help you go from reactive to ready. Think Nieux is here to help you start smart.
Think Nieux offers three ways to get started:
Everyday AI – A personalized 1-on-1 session to help you explore how AI can support your goals and workflows.
Leadership Lab: AI – A private workshop for teams to align around AI strategy, spark innovation, and take practical next steps.
AI on Tap – A fun, approachable panel and happy hour that builds confidence, curiosity, and community around AI.
Get curious, not overwhelmed.
You don’t need to understand the whole landscape. You just need to start.
The key is experimentation
In New Orleans, we don’t wait for permission to start a second line—we have the courage to blow the horn and start moving. That’s where the magic begins.
Start small. Think big. Move fast.
Yes, this image was made by ChatGPT 4.0!!
Yo Tim, 100% supportive of the thinking and a great list of resources.