Investigating Youth's Technical and Ethical Understanding of Generative Language Models When Engaging in Construction and Deconstruction Activities
Project Overview
The document emphasizes the significance of involving young people in the design and evaluation of generative AI systems to enhance their technical and ethical understanding of these technologies. It details participatory design workshops where teenagers actively engage in building and auditing generative language models (GLMs), aimed at improving their AI literacy and critical thinking skills. The findings indicate that these hands-on activities not only enhance students' comprehension of AI but also illuminate its broader implications in society. Through this approach, the study demonstrates that engaging youth in the creative processes of AI development fosters a more informed and critically aware generation, capable of navigating the complexities of AI technologies. Overall, the document underscores the transformative potential of generative AI in education by empowering students to become active participants in shaping the future of AI while cultivating essential skills for ethical and informed citizenship.
Key Applications
Participatory design workshops for building and auditing generative language models (GLMs)
Context: High school students (9th graders) in an after-school program at a science center in the Northeastern United States.
Implementation: Conducting workshops where students engage in building GLMs from a data-driven perspective and auditing commercial GLMs through systematic querying.
Outcomes: Improved understanding of technical and ethical aspects of GLMs; fostering of AI literacy among youth; development of critical thinking.
Challenges: Participants may have inconsistent understandings; the need to bridge technical and ethical conceptions.
Implementation Barriers
Educational Barrier
There is often a focus on using AI systems rather than understanding their design and implications.
Proposed Solutions: Engage youth in participatory design and auditing activities that connect to their interests and lived experiences.
Project Team
Luis Morales-Navarro
Researcher
Contact Information
For information about the paper, please contact the authors.
Authors: Luis Morales-Navarro
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