Artificial intelligence is all around us – and it’s not going away, especially here in Silicon Valley. But most people don’t know what AI tools exist, how they can be used and how they will shape our lives in the future.
This is where the AI Center for Civic Good comes in. The new center downtown Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library is a collaboration between the city of San Jose and San Jose State University, with funding from Adobe, to bring more AI experiences to city residents.
“From the beginning, our mission was clear: Create a place where creativity meets accessibility, supporting the public good,” said City Manager Jennifer Maguire. “Through thoughtful planning, collaboration and strong partnerships, we are developing a center that offers practical training, AI learning programs and opportunities for both San Jose State University students and residents to build practical skills.”
Tuesday’s grand opening of the library’s ground floor center was a showcase of AI tools and exhibits from San Jose State students, city departments and partners like LEGO Education, and fun things like robotics on display.
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Officials from the city of San Jose and San Jose State University cut the ribbon on the AI Center for Civic Good at the MLK Library in downtown San Jose on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (Sal Pizarro/Bay Area News Group)
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Officials from the city of San Jose and San Jose State University cut the ribbon on the AI Center for Civic Good at the MLK Library in downtown San Jose on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (Sal Pizarro/Bay Area News Group)
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There will be special programs in the coming weeks including one for leading women in AI in Silicon Valley on March 23 and one aimed at adults in May, with companies such as Anthropic, Open AI and Google offering in-person and online training.
The AI Center will be available for open lab work during the week beginning April 6, and all you need to use it is an SJSU Tower Card or a San Jose Library card.
Michael Meth, director of the SJSU King Library, said the AI Center is a good example of the city’s power and the collaboration of the university library, although he wishes we could come up with a better “a” for “AI,” such as “augment” or “help” to be more precise about how people can interact with it.
“Through our partnership the library is at the forefront of providing the SJSU community and the entire city of San José with access to state-of-the-art AI tools and resources,” he said.
You can find more information about the AI Center for Civic Good, and check for schedule updates, at www.sjlibrary.org/AIcenter.
FIGHTING WORDS: If you’re a fan of opera or ballet, you might not be a fan of “Marty Supreme” star Timothée Chalamet after two swipes at the performance art.
“I don’t want to work in a ballet or an opera where it’s like, ‘Hey, keep this thing alive, even though nobody cares anymore,’ ” Chalamet said in a recent interview with fellow actor Matthew McConaughey.
Fortunately, fans of Opera San Jose seem to disagree. Opera San Jose General Director and CEO Shawna Lucey said audiences turned out in droves for the company’s recent double-header productions of “Cavalleria Rusticana” and “Pagliacci.” And fans gave big to “La Dolce Vita,” the gala of Opera San Jose on Feb. 21 honors Maestro Joseph Marcheso’s 10th anniversary season.
The gala, held at the California Theater in downtown San Jose, raised more than $300,000 to support opera programs. There were many performances at the event, as well as a touching speech by Marcheso, but it was difficult for the famous composer and conductor Alma Deutscher. This young musical genius asked for four notes from the audience and spent just a minute creating a complex fugue on the spot using those four notes as a theme.
Perhaps the title should be “The Chalamet Requirement.”
ACT ONE, THIRD BEER: Silicon Valley Shakespeare brings its latest production of Shakesbeerience to a new venue, Narrative Fermentations in San Jose, on Friday. Just in time for the Ides of March, Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar” play, and if you’ve been to one before you know it’s a condensed read with lots of fun extras. And there should be plenty of beer available at the Narrative bar at 101 E. Alma Ave.
Beer will cost money but admission is free, and the festivities begin at 6:30 p.m.
COME TO TRITON: The deadline is fast approaching for submissions to “Salon at Triton,” the Triton Museum of Art’s annual 2D art competition.
Artists need to submit their entries by March 13 in five categories: drawing, painting, printmaking, photography and mixed media. Submission rules are available at www.tritonmuseum.org/salon-2026, although it is important to note that the Best in Show receives a solo exhibition at the Santa Clara museum.
The Salon exhibit will open on May 2, which is — coincidentally — the same day as Triton’s biggest fundraiser, “Destination Santa Clara, a Gala Voyage.” You can find more information about the evening, which will include international cuisine and multicultural entertainment, at www.tritonmuseum.org/gala.
