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Can Machines Really Think Like Us?

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Lesson Plan

AI Unplugged Introduction

Students will be able to define Artificial Intelligence, identify examples of AI in daily life, and understand the basic capabilities and limitations of AI.

Understanding AI is crucial in today's technology-driven world. This lesson helps students demystify AI, recognize its presence around them, and build a foundational understanding for future learning, empowering them to critically engage with emerging technologies.

Audience

9th Grade Students

Time

50 minutes

Approach

Through interactive activities, guided discussion, and visual aids.

Materials

Whiteboard or Projector, Thinking Machines Explained, AI or Not AI?, and The AI Brainstorm

Prep

Teacher Preparation

15 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: AI or Not AI?

10 minutes

  1. Begin the class with the AI or Not AI? warm-up activity.
    2. Present various scenarios or technologies and ask students to decide if they involve AI.
    3. Facilitate a brief class discussion about their initial thoughts and reasoning.

Step 2

Introduction to AI with Slides

15 minutes

  1. Transition to the Thinking Machines Explained slide deck.
    2. Use the slides to introduce the definition of AI, its historical context (briefly), and common examples.
    3. Explain the difference between narrow AI and general AI.
    4. Encourage questions and foster an interactive learning environment.

Step 3

Discussion: The AI Brainstorm

15 minutes

  1. Lead students in The AI Brainstorm activity.
    2. Divide students into small groups or conduct as a whole-class discussion.
    3. Prompt them to brainstorm where they encounter AI in their daily lives and discuss potential benefits and concerns.
    4. Guide the discussion to explore the capabilities and limitations of current AI technology.

Step 4

Wrap-Up & Reflection

10 minutes

  1. Recap the main points of the lesson: what AI is, its examples, capabilities, and limitations.
    2. Ask students to share one new thing they learned or one lingering question they have about AI.
    3. Briefly discuss the idea: "Can machines really think like us?" as a lead-in to future lessons.
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Slide Deck

Can Machines Really Think Like Us?

What is Artificial Intelligence?

  • Exploring the 'brains' behind our tech
  • From science fiction to real life
  • Your thoughts on AI?

Welcome students and introduce the topic. Ask them what comes to mind when they hear "Artificial Intelligence." Encourage a brief share-out.

What is AI, Anyway?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Defined

  • AI: Machines designed to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence.
  • It's about mimicking how we think, learn, and solve problems.
  • Think: Learning, problem-solving, understanding language, recognizing patterns.

Define AI simply. Emphasize that it's about machines mimicking human intelligence, not necessarily having consciousness. Give a few simple examples like smart assistants or recommendation systems.

From Deep Blue to Siri: A Quick Look

A Brief History & Key Concepts

  • AI has been a dream for decades!
  • Narrow AI (Weak AI): Excels at one specific task.
    • Examples: GPS navigation, spam filters, facial recognition on your phone.
  • General AI (Strong AI): Hypothetical AI that can understand, learn, and apply intelligence to any intellectual task a human can.
    • Still largely in the realm of science fiction... for now!

Briefly mention the history to show it's not a brand new concept. Focus on how it has evolved. Give clear examples of narrow AI (specific tasks) and introduce the idea of general AI (human-like intelligence across tasks) as something we are still working towards.

AI All Around Us!

Where Do You See AI?

  • Smartphones: Voice assistants (Siri, Google Assistant), face unlock, predictive text.
  • Streaming Services: Movie and music recommendations.
  • Social Media: Content feeds, ad targeting.
  • Online Shopping: Product suggestions.
  • Video Games: Non-player characters (NPCs) behavior.

Engage students by asking them to think about AI in their daily lives. Prompt them for examples before revealing the slide content. Emphasize how pervasive it is.

AI's Superpowers & Its Kryptonite

Capabilities and Limitations

What AI can do (Superpowers):

  • Process huge amounts of data quickly.
  • Find patterns humans might miss.
  • Automate repetitive tasks.
  • Learn from data to improve performance.

What AI struggles with (Kryptonite):

  • Common sense reasoning.
  • Creativity (true innovation).
  • Emotional intelligence.
  • Understanding context or nuance.
  • Requires lots of data to learn.

Discuss the amazing things AI can do, but immediately follow with its limitations. It's important to balance the hype with reality. Use simple terms to explain why common sense or emotional understanding is hard for AI.

So, Can Machines Really Think Like Us?

The Big Question

  • Based on what we've learned, what do you think?
  • What makes human thinking unique?
  • What are the differences between how a human 'learns' and how an AI 'learns'?

Pose the central question of the lesson directly. Encourage students to think about the differences between human and machine 'thinking.' This sets up the discussion activity.

Key Takeaways

Wrapping Up AI Basics

  • AI is about machines doing smart things.
  • It's everywhere, helping us daily.
  • AI has incredible capabilities but also clear limitations.
  • It's a powerful tool, and we are the ones who guide its development and use.

Questions?

Provide a brief summary and invite questions. Reinforce the idea that AI is a tool, and understanding it is key to using it responsibly.

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Warm Up

AI or Not AI? Warm-Up

Instructions: For each scenario below, decide if you think Artificial Intelligence is involved. Be ready to explain your reasoning!

  1. Scenario: Your phone automatically corrects your spelling when you type a text message.

    • AI or Not AI?



    • Why?











  2. Scenario: A calculator solves a complex math problem for you.

    • AI or Not AI?



    • Why?











  3. Scenario: Netflix suggests movies you might like based on your viewing history.

    • AI or Not AI?



    • Why?











  4. Scenario: A self-driving car navigates through city streets without human input.

    • AI or Not AI?



    • Why?











  5. Scenario: A vending machine dispenses a drink when you insert money.

    • AI or Not AI?



    • Why?











  6. Scenario: A program translates text from English to Spanish instantly.

    • AI or Not AI?



    • Why?











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Discussion

The AI Brainstorm: Where Do We See It?

Instructions: In small groups or as a class, brainstorm and discuss the following questions. Be prepared to share your thoughts with everyone!

Part 1: AI in Our Lives

  1. Think about your daily routines. Where do you encounter Artificial Intelligence? List as many examples as you can.














  2. How has AI changed the way you interact with technology or the world around you?














  3. What are some positive impacts of AI that you can think of?














Part 2: Capabilities and Concerns

  1. Based on what we've discussed, what do you think AI is really good at? What are its strengths?














  2. What are some limitations of AI? What are things that AI currently struggles with or cannot do?














  3. Are there any potential concerns or ethical questions that come to mind when we talk about machines thinking or making decisions?














Part 3: Reflecting on the Big Question

  1. After this discussion, how would you answer the question: "Can machines really think like us?" Has your opinion changed or been reinforced?














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Can Machines Really Think Like Us? • Lenny Learning