What is AI?: Ages 12-18

In this AI-focused unit, students explore artificial intelligence, how machines learn, and how algorithms work. They begin by researching real-world AI systems—such as chatbots, self-driving cars, and recommendation tools—to understand how AI perceives, plans, learns, interacts, and impacts society. Students also experiment with Google Quick, Draw! to see how AI makes predictions, leading to discussions about bias and fairness in AI training data. Finally, students engage in hands-on algorithm activities, including optimizing solutions to simple problems, which helps them explore how defining “best” in AI decision-making can introduce bias.

Throughout these lessons, students are encouraged to think critically about how AI works and its ethical impact on the world while connecting to the five big ideas of AI: Perceive, Reason and plan, Learn, Interact, and Impact.