HELPFUL DEFINITIONS

• The Internet of Things: describes the network of physical objects (things) that are embedded with sensors, software, and other technologies for the purpose of connecting and exchanging data with other internet systems.
• Chatbox or Bot: is a computer program that simulates human conversation through voice commands or text chats or both.
• Algorithm: The step-by-step method that a computer uses to complete each task. Since a computer understands numbers best, the steps are put together as mathematical equations.
• Machine Learning: an application of artificial intelligence that provides systems the ability to automatically learn and improve from experience without being explicitly programmed.
• Cognitive Science: A discipline that examines the various processes of the human brain such as linguistics, information processing, and decision making to discover more about cognition.
• Deep Learning: is an artificial intelligence function that imitates the workings of the human brain in processing data and creating patterns for use in decision making.
• Expert System: A computer system that models the decision- making ability of a human expert. Expert systems are rule-based and normally use “if-then” statements.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

• What devices that use AI, such as smartphones, do you use in your daily life? How have they changed how you live your life?
• In your opinion, how could AI affect your life in the future?
• Many fear that AI will eliminate more jobs than it will create through automation and other technological advances.
• Have you seen any effects, either positive or negative, of AI on job growth in your society?
• It has been said that artificial intelligence can help us overcome the limitations of our own minds – what do you think the speaker meant by this?
• How is your society incorporating AI?
• Is AI simply another technological development like flight or something more transformational for society?

IMPACT OF AI ACTIVITY

1. Introduce the topic with VOA News Report on AI or read the ShareAmerica articles.
2. Divide the participants into groups and have them come up with examples of how AI could impact their society.
3. Discuss the below examples.
4. Ask the group how AI could impact education? Encourage the group to conduct research on the internet.

Examples of AI Impact on Society

• Healthcare: Artificial Intelligence has enormous potential to advance healthcare, accelerate medical research, and support the health and wellbeing of people around the world.
• Self-Driving Vehicles: The development and deployment of automated vehicles (AV), has the potential to reduce the number and severity of serious automobile crashes. Over 90 percent of these crashes are due to human error.
• Agriculture: AI can boost productivity and efficiency by more closely monitoring soil quality, precipitation, and erosion, as well as running predictive analysis for changes in weather patterns, soil erosion, and pest infestation.
• Voice Assistants: For many people, their main interaction with AI is through ubiquitous voice assistants. In many cases, being able to control computers and devices by voice is a positive thing. However, there are potential consequences, such as invasion of privacy.
• Vital Tasks: AI assistants may help individuals, especially the elderly manage their own homes. For example, AI tools could monitor the freshness of foodstuffs, assist in medical diagnosis, safely reach objects on high shelves, and monitor movement in a home.