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AI and You 9-12 / Week 01 / Explorer Quest
6/6
Week 01 · What Is SH-1, Really?

Explorer Quest

Explorer Quest: Rules or AI around town
// An AI study helper arrives, and the crew asks what kind of system it is
⏱ about 20 min

Explorer Quest: Rules or AI Around Town

On Saturday, Comet and Wren walk past the shops near Harbor Point. A crosswalk signal beeps, and an automatic door slides open.

Comet points at the door. "Rules or AI?"

Wren watches it open for a jogger, then for a dog. "What does the evidence say? It opens for anything that moves. I think that is one fixed rule."

Comet frowns at a big screen of suggested shows in a shop window. "That one suggests different things to different people, though."

Nova floats beside them. "Would you like a hint?" she asks. "You can only see from the outside, so say what you notice and how sure you are."

Wren grins at you. "Reviewer, try this with your family."

  1. An AI system produces outputs such as predictions, recommendations or decisions for a set of objectives, with some autonomy.
  2. Fixed-rule software follows rules people wrote out for every case.
  3. A sensor alone does not make a system AI.
  4. From the outside, you can only make a careful guess about what is inside a system.
◇ RULES OR AI AROUND TOWN
Sit with a family member who has a few minutes to talk.
Together, list three machines or services at home or in town that you think follow fixed rules, such as a crosswalk signal.
Then list three that might use AI because they seem to make predictions, recommendations or decisions on their own.
Describe each one by what it does. Leave out brand and company names.
For each one, say what you noticed from the outside that made you guess.
Last, talk about how you could tell for sure, and why that is hard from the outside.
You do not need any device for this quest.
ExampleFixed rules or maybe AI?What you could notice from the outside
A crosswalk signal that changes every 60 secondsFixed rulesIt changes on the same timing all day
An automatic doorFixed rulesIt opens for anything that moves near it
A screen that suggests different shows to different peopleMaybe AIIt makes a different recommendation for each person
For a grown-up
This week your student began a 12-week, unplugged review of SH-1, a made-up AI study helper.
Ask: what did we notice that made us guess "rules" or "AI"? How sure can we be from the outside?
Talk about machines and services by what they do. Nobody needs to name a brand, an app or any personal detail.
QUEST CHECK
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
An automatic door opens for anything that moves. What is the best guess?
A screen suggests different shows to different people. What kind of output is that?
Why is it hard to be sure a system uses AI from the outside?

Great quest, reviewer. Next week the crew maps SH-1's whole lifecycle and everyone who works on it.

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