By Brigid McCormack
When someone says “AI,” what pops into your head? Siri chatting with you? Self-driving cars? Or maybe it’s a scary movie about robots taking over the world. Yeah, we’ve all been there.
Let’s get real for a sec. AI (or artificial intelligence) sounds like this big, complicated thing, right? Even Jane Marsey, a college student at the University of Illinois, admits she doesn’t “know how AI works,” other than it being super fast at Googling “to answer a question.” Same, Jane, same.
But here’s the thing, understanding AI isn’t that tough. Think of it like a recipe. You’ve got a machine learning model (the chef) + some data (all of the ingredients), and voila - you’ve cooked up some AI.
Okay, but what does that mean?
Machine learning models, like the brains behind Siri, are programs that help computers and robots spot patterns and fix their own mistakes. Siri uses natural language processing, so she gets what you’re saying and can respond. Although Siri’s smarts come from a library of data, including stuff you ask or tell her, she’s far from perfect.
Kemiah Corner, who’s 17 and totally into tech, gets it. She says talking to Siri and Alexa can be “frustrating because she never really hears what you say or [she] gives you something different than what you asked for.”
Corner is a part of an awesome group called the Emerging Ladies Academy (ELA), which provides BIPOC girls in tech a place to grow into their awesome selves.
Wait, I can do that with AI?
With AI, you can dive into the gaming world - or chat with a virtual Albert Einstein. How cool is that? Imagine strapping on a virtual headset and stepping back in time to Ancient Greece!
“Think about the tools you use most regularly, and start by understanding them first,” suggested Killian MacDonald, a creative technologist and fantasy author. “It’s easiest to wrap your head around when you personally understand the ‘why’ and application of it.”
Learning and creating AI is more accessible, thanks to the wide availability of programming, coding, and digital creativity programs. Killian, for example, has used different AI tools to build fantasy worlds for her novels.
“In health care, AI can assist in early disease detection, while in education, it can personalize learning,” said Tiffany Gamble, founder of ELA. “AI can provide educators with tools to meet student's needs and help teachers plan lessons at a quicker pace.”
Always protect yourself
At the end of the day, AI is still new with plenty of unknown risks.
“My concern would be people using AI to hack accounts…to get money,” Corner said.
Gamble said that’s possible.
“Name, addresses, and contact information can be inadvertently collected during the interaction with AI,” she explained. “This process can result in misuse and unintended exposure of personal data. We have to be very careful what we ‘feed’ AI systems.”
Pairing human creativity with AI is like unlocking a powerhouse of innovation.
“With this technology rapidly advancing every day, time is of the essence to understand this 21st-century skill,” Gamble said.
So, now that you know the basics and the risks, what will you do?