You have checked AI answers that sounded sure but were wrong, and judged synthetic media, which is pictures and video made by AI. You also trained and tested image models and pose models, which learn to spot how a body is standing. Today you will weigh up the good and bad sides of AI. There is no right answer. You will take a stand, hear both sides and see if anyone changes their mind.
"The advantages of AI for young people outweigh the disadvantages."
In a debate, the statement you argue for or against is called the motion. Here, "outweigh" means the good things about AI count for more than the bad things. Notice whether you agree, disagree or are not sure, and why.
The promise side argues for the good AI can do, like helping you be creative. The pitfalls side argues about the problems AI can cause, like confident wrong answers. You may be given a side that is not your own view. Your job is then to argue the strongest fair version of it, which is called steelmanning.
Show where you stand on the motion by going to that part of the room, with agree at one end, disagree at the other and not sure in the middle, or by telling your teacher. Your teacher places markers on the board to match. First, choose your place without talking. Then listen while two or three people from each end of the line give their strongest reason. When your teacher shows the "things to think about" prompts, read them, and move only if one of them has really changed your mind. If it has, your teacher will move your marker.
Be ready to give one real reason, based on something you have seen AI do.
From the AI answer we checked that sounded sure but was wrong…
From the clue we spotted that showed an image was made by AI…
From when we trained or tested the image or pose model…
Interactive activity
This is a short debate. Your teacher will give you either the promise case or the pitfalls case. You may have to argue a side you do not agree with, and that is meant to happen. Argue the strongest fair version of your side.
Both lists are on the screen, but read only the list for your own side. You will hear the other side's points when they speak.
- Creativity: AI gives starting points for writing, pictures and ideas, so more students can make something.
- Access: you can get explanations whenever you need them, and another way to learn a topic that will not stick.
- Speed: AI can help with drafts and spot patterns, which can leave more time for people to use their own judgement.
- Staying in control: when AI is used well, it supports the checks and choices that only a person can make.
- Good training data: when you gave your image or pose model a balanced mix of examples, it learnt the pattern you chose.
- Confident errors: chat tools can sound sure while making up facts. You practised deciding whether to trust or reject an answer.
- Bias: bias means leaning unfairly towards one side. When the data and design behind a system are unbalanced, its results can be unfair too.
- Relying on AI too much: if a tool always writes the first draft for you, your own thinking gets less practice.
- Trust and media: pictures, voices and video made by AI make it harder to know what is real.
- Easy to fool: the image or pose model you tested could be tricked when it had too few examples or they were unbalanced.
When we checked that AI answer, we found…
When we judged that synthetic image, the clue that it was made by AI was…
When we trained and tested the model, what happened was…
Do this now
- With a partner from your side, take 2 minutes to choose the two points you will lead with and one piece of evidence from class work that backs them up. Write them down as Point 1, Point 2 and Evidence, and start your evidence with whichever starter above fits.
- Each side chooses one person to open (90 seconds) and a different person to reply (45 seconds). Every pair still prepares, even if you are not one of these speakers, so that your side's speakers have plenty of points to use. Your teacher keeps time and calls on the four speakers.
- The promise side speaks for 90 seconds while the pitfalls side listens.
- Then the pitfalls side speaks for 90 seconds while the promise side listens.
- Each side then has 45 seconds to reply. Aim your reply at the other side's strongest point instead of giving a new speech.
- Finally, take 1 minute to decide again, in silence, whether you agree, disagree or are not sure about the motion.
Today you heard that AI can help you be creative and work faster. You also heard that AI can give wrong answers that sound true, and that its results can be biased. It can also make media harder to trust, and people can rely on it too much. Many of these link to your class work.
Whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages is still your decision. Next, you will make one personal rule so AI stays a tool you think with, not one that thinks for you.
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