Over the past few weeks, our middle schoolers have been visiting the library for a workshop on AI Chatbots. In this Common Sense Education lesson, our students learn about how these Chatbots are designed, why they are made to sound human-like, and the issues that can arise from developing personal relationships with Chatbots.
This topic is more important than ever as there have been cases of teen suicide in the United States resulting from unhealthy Chatbot relationships*. Students need to be able to fully understand that though the conversation may sound human, there is no person and no emotion or empathy on the other end.
Our middle schoolers were enthusiastically engaged in this workshop as AI is a hot topic for them. I will continue these algorithmic literacy workshops with them in the months to come so that our students leave the OJCS with a comprehensive understanding of AI uses and the problems and controversies that can surround it.
*News article references;
https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/30/tech/teen-suicide-character-ai-lawsuit