Why AI literacy is our first line of defense.
GUEST COLUMN | by Maggie Layfield
The history of the automobile, much like artificial intelligence, extends much further back than when it became mainstream and affordable. As early as the 1600-1700’s, there are records of steam-powered automobiles that eventually led to the development of combustion engines. Yet it wasn’t until the early 20th century that automobiles really took off thanks to manufacturing and more affordable pricing. As they became more accessible, it’s easy to imagine how thrilled people were. Now they could go farther, faster, and in less time. The world was suddenly smaller and, for many, life may have even become easier.
‘The history of the automobile, much like artificial intelligence, extends much further back than when it became mainstream and affordable.’
When New Technology Becomes Everyday
Cars offered speed and convenience, but they also presented new risks: accidents, injuries, and even fatalities. Environmental concerns were raised about the impact of mass production, as well as fuel. Over time, brakes were improved, safety glass for windshields replaced more fragile options, and seat belts became standard. Eventually, governments became involved in regulating safety requirements to protect consumers and ensure quality. But before much of this took place, states in the U.S. (and countries abroad) began enacting policies regarding licensing. By 1966, when the Congress mandated seatbelts in automobiles, every state in the U.S. had been requiring a driver’s license with an exam for several years. Society seemed to understand that cars weren’t inherently dangerous, but a lack of training and understanding was.
AI’s Rise Comes With Similar Risks
AI is, in many ways, very similar. Although generative AI is relatively new to many people, AI has been evolving and developing for more than fifty years. Much like the automobile, the popularity of AI has skyrocketed due to accessibility and affordability.
There is so much that can be done with AI tools—we can work faster, create more, access information more quickly. But just like cars, there are also risks.
‘There is so much that can be done with AI tools—we can work faster, create more, access information more quickly. But just like cars, there are also risks.’
- Many people cannot tell the difference between AI-generated content and human-created work
- People trusting the outputs without questioning the accuracy or verifying sources
- Oversharing– providing sensitive information without understanding how these systems process/store data
- The ability to create and share content unchecked, including generating images and videos using another person’s likeness without permission
Ideally, regulations and laws would be implemented to protect individuals’ right to privacy, prevent data shared from being used inappropriately, and require AI-generated content to be clearly identifiable so as to avoid confusion or misdirection. However, technology moves at a far greater speed than most governments do, and legislation continues to lag behind the evolution of artificial intelligence.
Education as the First Line of Defense
The best line of defense, then, is education. The lack of AI literacy, whether it be not understanding how AI works, inability to recognize AI-generated content, or inherently trusting AI outputs without question, is a danger that can be combatted with an increased emphasis on education. Even those who do not actively use AI tools are subjected to AI-content; it’s now baked into social media, apps, and advertisements and is nearly unavoidable.
People using and interacting with AI need to understand how it works, where it fails, what is safe to share, how to verify/validate outputs, and how to recognize AI content. K12 and Higher Education institutions are uniquely positioned to fill this gap and provide quality instruction in AI literacy to students, as well as potentially providing resources for the community at large.
What AI Literacy Should Cover
What should AI literacy include? At a minimum:
– Critical thinking: users and consumers must learn to question outputs, verify sources, and recognize when something appears inaccurate or “off”.
– Bias awareness: AI systems have been trained and continue to be trained on human data, which means it can and does reflect and amplify bias. Understanding this and learning to recognize this helps users to interpret results responsibly.
– Privacy Best Practices: understanding what is and isn’t safe to share, as well as what could put someone at risk when interacting with AI tools.
– Ethics: the basics of “right and wrong” should be applied to AI, helping users and consumers understand the impacts that AI generated content can have on others, as well as themself.
Already there are schools and campuses taking steps to incorporate AI literacy into their curriculum and instruction. K12 districts are adopting digital literacy programs that include AI basics; colleges and universities are even dedicating entire courses to AI ethics and responsible use. These initiatives are the first steps of many towards teaching students not only how to use AI, but to do so effectively, safely, and ethically, skills which will be essential in their professional and personal lives.
‘These initiatives are the first steps of many towards teaching students not only how to use AI, but to do so effectively, safely, and ethically, skills which will be essential in their professional and personal lives.’
Yes, we need laws and regulations regarding usage, privacy, and content. But we also need to understand our first line of defense is ourselves. Before anyone takes AI for a joy ride, they should take the time to educate themselves so they can drive safely and protect not only themselves, but others too.
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Maggie Layfield is Director of Higher Education at ClassLink. A former educator and longtime edtech leader, she focuses on practical technology adoption that supports learners and institutions. Connect with Maggie via LinkedIn.
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