Scientists have made robots that can reproduce. These robots, called xenobots, are made from frog cells and designed with artificial intelligence. The xenobots are programmed to behave in certain ways, have different shapes that affect how they function, and store and replicate complete copies of themselves. The xenobots allow scientists to study self-replication, which might help solve self-replicating problems like COVID-19. Listen to hear more about xenobots and the history of robots.
Read MoreDebate: Is AI Image Creation Technology Dangerous?
A new artificial intelligence program, DALL-E, is able to translate text into vivid images. People can feed unusual combinations of words or phrases into the system and watch as unique images are generated. Many people are having fun seeing the silly images DALL-E creates, and some have found helpful ways to use the technology to enhance their work. But there is concern that the high-quality images produced by AI programs could increase the spread of disinformation. Listen to learn more about DALL-E and then debate: Is AI image creation technology dangerous?
Read MoreDebate: Is AI Helpful or Harmful for Learning?
ChatGPT is a new artificial intelligence tool that could revolutionize teaching and learning. The powerful technology can write papers and poems, edit code, translate languages, and much more. Teachers are concerned that the high quality of ChatGPT’s output makes cheating hard to detect, and they’re worried it may kill students’ motivation to work and learn, and some want access to the tool blocked at school. But others think ChatGPT has the potential to reinvigorate education by offering teachers and students exciting new tools for research and writing. Listen to hear how cheating with AI might be detected and then debate: Is AI helpful or harmful for learning?
Read MoreDebate: Does ChatGPT Make Education More Equitable?
The artificial intelligence tool ChatGPT can generate high-quality essays, poems, and other types of writing that can be indistinguishable from work produced by humans. Many educators say the new tool makes it easy for students to cheat and they want it banned from schools. But others say outsourcing some types of writing to AI can be useful. Those who struggle with writing could benefit from assistance on mundane tasks like sending emails, which can help them to be recognized and respected. Listen to a professor explain why he requires his students to use AI in his classroom and then debate: Does ChatGPT make education more equitable?
Read MoreCURRENT EVENT | May 4, 2023
What does it mean to have consciousness? That’s a question that scientists and legal experts are grappling with as artificial intelligence gives computers the capacity to “think” almost like humans. Some argue that humans have particular qualities that machines cannot master, such as imagination and the ability to create new ideas. But as AI grows in sophistication, others argue that computers will soon be able to match humans’ higher-order thinking – a possibility that raises all sorts of ethical questions. Listen to hear a legal expert explain how keeping sentient computers might one day be viewed as enslavement, and then debate: Are computers headed toward personhood?
Story Length: 3:37
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06/21/2022
https://app.listenwise.com/students/events/2381-debate-are-computers-headed-toward-personhood
Classroom Discussion Themes