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Investigating Youth AI Auditing

Project Overview

The document examines the role of generative AI in education, emphasizing how youth under 18 can engage in Responsible AI (RAI) practices, specifically through AI auditing. It underscores the unique insights that young individuals can offer, as their experiences with AI technologies enable them to identify problematic behaviors within these systems. The study reveals that when provided with adequate AI literacy scaffolding, youth can enhance their auditing capabilities. The findings suggest that involving young people in the auditing process not only deepens their understanding of AI but also contributes to the creation of more ethical AI systems. This engagement fosters critical thinking and equips youth with the necessary skills to navigate and influence the evolving landscape of AI, ultimately leading to more responsible and effective integration of AI technologies in educational contexts.

Key Applications

AI auditing tool for youth

Context: K-12 education, targeting youth (ages 13-17) in community settings

Implementation: Conducting workshops where youth audit AI systems using both guided activities and a specialized auditing tool.

Outcomes: Youth were able to conduct insightful audits, identify biases and problematic AI behaviors, and engage in critical discussions about AI ethics.

Challenges: Barriers included potential emotional distress from encountering harmful content and the need for appropriate guidance in auditing.

Implementation Barriers

Technical Fluency

Youth may lack the technical skills and knowledge needed to engage deeply with AI auditing processes.

Proposed Solutions: Providing critical AI literacy training and scaffolding to help youth understand AI systems better.

Emotional Distress

Engagement in auditing may expose youth to harmful or inappropriate content, leading to emotional distress.

Proposed Solutions: Implementing structured activities with oversight to ensure a safe and supportive environment.

Perceptions of Youth Competence

There is a prevailing belief that youth do not have the maturity or expertise to engage in complex discussions about AI.

Proposed Solutions: Demonstrating the capabilities of youth through structured workshops and highlighting their insights during the auditing process.

Project Team

Jaemarie Solyst

Researcher

Cindy Peng

Researcher

Wesley Hanwen Deng

Researcher

Praneetha Pratapa

Researcher

Jessica Hammer

Researcher

Amy Ogan

Researcher

Jason Hong

Researcher

Motahhare Eslami

Researcher

Contact Information

For information about the paper, please contact the authors.

Authors: Jaemarie Solyst, Cindy Peng, Wesley Hanwen Deng, Praneetha Pratapa, Jessica Hammer, Amy Ogan, Jason Hong, Motahhare Eslami

Source Publication: View Original PaperLink opens in a new window

Project Contact: Dr. Jianhua Yang

LLM Model Version: gpt-4o-mini-2024-07-18

Analysis Provider: Openai

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