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Artificial Intelligence

This subject guide provides information and suggested readings and resources on the topic of Artificial Intelligence

What is AI Literacy?

AI literacy is a collection of abilities that enable individuals to critically evaluate AI technologies, communicate and collaborate effectively and ethically with AI, and use AI as a tool in various settings such as online, at home, and in the workplace. It encompasses understanding the technology underlying AI-based tools, considering the processes behind the development, training, and use of AI; recognizing the impact of AI on individuals and society, and the ability to interact with AI systems effectively and ethically. 

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Lack of awareness, misconceptions, and misunderstandings are prevalent across the general public and even within regulatory and legislative bodies. Understanding what AI entails--what it is and what it is not--its real-world applications, capabilities, and the current and future risks and challenges surrounding its development is crucial for establishing responsible use, development, and regulation of AI. 

AI's presence is more widespread than many realize.  Some sectors in which AI is already in use include:

Surveillance and Cybersecurity

  • Image and facial recognition
  • Threat detection and intrusion prevention using machine learning to identify malicious patterns and anomalies
  • Behavioral analytics to detect insider threats and compromised accounts
  • Phishing and spam filtering using natural language processing

Social Media

  • Content moderation and filtering using computer vision and NLP to detect hate speech, misinformation etc.
  • Facial recognition for auto-tagging people in images and videos
  • Personalized news feeds and content recommendations

Customer Service

  • Chatbots and virtual assistants for answering queries, troubleshooting
  • Visual search for products based on uploaded images
  • Voice ordering systems like the one used by Starbucks

Robotics

  • Industrial robots for assembly lines, material handling
  • Home robots like iRobot's Roomba vacuum cleaner
  • Social robots with natural language abilities like Hanson Robotics' Sophia

Transportation

  • Self-driving cars and autonomous delivery drones
  • AI-powered mapping and route optimization like Google Maps

Marketing

  • Predictive analytics for targeted advertising and campaigns
  • Automated content generation and personalized messaging
  • Recommendation systems for e-commerce, streaming platforms

The ROBOT Test

Being AI Literate does not mean you need to understand the advanced mechanics of AI. It means that you are actively learning about the technologies involved and that you critically approach any texts you read that concern AI, especially news articles. 

The LibrAIry has created a tool you can use when reading about AI applications to help consider the legitimacy of the technology.

 

Reliability

Objective

Bias

Ownership

Type

Reliability

  • How reliable is the information available about the AI technology?
  • If it’s not produced by the party responsible for the AI, what are the author’s credentials? Bias?
  • If it is produced by the party responsible for the AI, how much information are they making available? 
    • Is information only partially available due to trade secrets?
    • How biased is they information that they produce?

Objective

  • What is the goal or objective of the use of AI?
  • What is the goal of sharing information about it?
    • To inform?
    • To convince?
    • To find financial support?

Bias

  • What could create bias in the AI technology?
  • Are there ethical issues associated with this?
  • Are bias or ethical issues acknowledged?
    • By the source of information?
    • By the party responsible for the AI?
    • By its users?

Owner

  • Who is the owner or developer of the AI technology?
  • Who is responsible for it?
    • Is it a private company?
    • The government?
    • A think tank or research group?
  • Who has access to it?
  • Who can use it?

Type

  • Which subtype of AI is it?
  • Is the technology theoretical or applied?
  • What kind of information system does it rely on?
  • Does it rely on human intervention?