Imagine a More Ethical AI: Using Stories to Develop Teens' Awareness and Understanding of Artificial Intelligence and its Societal Impacts

Stacey Forsyth; Bridget Dalton; Ellie Haberl Foster; Benjamin Walsh; Jacqueline Smilack; Tom Yeh

doi:10.1109/RESPECT51740.2021.9620549

Imagine a More Ethical AI: Using Stories to Develop Teens' Awareness and Understanding of Artificial Intelligence and its Societal Impacts

Stacey Forsyth, Bridget Dalton, Ellie Haberl Foster, Benjamin Walsh, Jacqueline Smilack, Tom Yeh

Department of Psychology

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools and technologies are increasingly prevalent in society. Many teens interact with AI devices on a daily basis but often have a limited understanding of how AI works, as well as how it impacts society more broadly. It is critical to develop youths' understanding of AI, cultivate ethical awareness, and support diverse youth in pursuing computer science to help ensure future development of more equitable AI technologies. Here, we share our experiences developing and remotely facilitating an interdisciplinary AI ethics program for secondary students designed to increase teens' awareness and understanding of AI and its societal impacts. Students discussed stories with embedded ethical dilemmas, engaged with AI media and simulations, and created digital products to express their stance on an AI ethics issue. Across four iterations in formal and informal settings, we found students to be engaged in AI stories and invested in learning about AI and its societal impacts. Short stories were effective in raising awareness, focusing discussion and supporting students in developing a more nuanced understanding of AI ethics issues, such as fairness, bias and privacy.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	2021 Research on Equity and Sustained Participation in Engineering, Computing, and Technology, RESPECT 2021 - Conference Proceedings
Editors	Christina Gardner-McCune, Siobahn Day Grady, Yerika Jimenez, Jean J. Ryoo, Rafi Santo, Jamie Payton
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
ISBN (Electronic)	9781665449052
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/RESPECT51740.2021.9620549
State	Published - 2021
Event	2021 Research on Equity and Sustained Participation in Engineering, Computing, and Technology, RESPECT 2021 - Virtual, Online, United States Duration: 23 May 2021 → 27 May 2021

Publication series

Name	2021 Research on Equity and Sustained Participation in Engineering, Computing, and Technology, RESPECT 2021 - Conference Proceedings

Conference

Conference	2021 Research on Equity and Sustained Participation in Engineering, Computing, and Technology, RESPECT 2021
Country/Territory	United States
City	Virtual, Online
Period	23/05/21 → 27/05/21

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 1934151. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSF.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 IEEE.

Keywords

artificial intelligence (AI)
ethics
machine learning

Access to Document

10.1109/RESPECT51740.2021.9620549

Cite this

Forsyth, S., Dalton, B., Foster, E. H., Walsh, B., Smilack, J., & Yeh, T. (2021). Imagine a More Ethical AI: Using Stories to Develop Teens' Awareness and Understanding of Artificial Intelligence and its Societal Impacts. In C. Gardner-McCune, S. D. Grady, Y. Jimenez, J. J. Ryoo, R. Santo, & J. Payton (Eds.), 2021 Research on Equity and Sustained Participation in Engineering, Computing, and Technology, RESPECT 2021 - Conference Proceedings (2021 Research on Equity and Sustained Participation in Engineering, Computing, and Technology, RESPECT 2021 - Conference Proceedings). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.. https://doi.org/10.1109/RESPECT51740.2021.9620549

Forsyth, Stacey ; Dalton, Bridget ; Foster, Ellie Haberl et al. / Imagine a More Ethical AI : Using Stories to Develop Teens' Awareness and Understanding of Artificial Intelligence and its Societal Impacts. 2021 Research on Equity and Sustained Participation in Engineering, Computing, and Technology, RESPECT 2021 - Conference Proceedings. editor / Christina Gardner-McCune ; Siobahn Day Grady ; Yerika Jimenez ; Jean J. Ryoo ; Rafi Santo ; Jamie Payton. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2021. (2021 Research on Equity and Sustained Participation in Engineering, Computing, and Technology, RESPECT 2021 - Conference Proceedings).

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title = "Imagine a More Ethical AI: Using Stories to Develop Teens' Awareness and Understanding of Artificial Intelligence and its Societal Impacts",

abstract = "Artificial intelligence (AI) tools and technologies are increasingly prevalent in society. Many teens interact with AI devices on a daily basis but often have a limited understanding of how AI works, as well as how it impacts society more broadly. It is critical to develop youths' understanding of AI, cultivate ethical awareness, and support diverse youth in pursuing computer science to help ensure future development of more equitable AI technologies. Here, we share our experiences developing and remotely facilitating an interdisciplinary AI ethics program for secondary students designed to increase teens' awareness and understanding of AI and its societal impacts. Students discussed stories with embedded ethical dilemmas, engaged with AI media and simulations, and created digital products to express their stance on an AI ethics issue. Across four iterations in formal and informal settings, we found students to be engaged in AI stories and invested in learning about AI and its societal impacts. Short stories were effective in raising awareness, focusing discussion and supporting students in developing a more nuanced understanding of AI ethics issues, such as fairness, bias and privacy.",

keywords = "artificial intelligence (AI), ethics, machine learning",

author = "Stacey Forsyth and Bridget Dalton and Foster, {Ellie Haberl} and Benjamin Walsh and Jacqueline Smilack and Tom Yeh",

note = "Funding Information: This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 1934151. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSF. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 IEEE.; 2021 Research on Equity and Sustained Participation in Engineering, Computing, and Technology, RESPECT 2021 ; Conference date: 23-05-2021 Through 27-05-2021",

year = "2021",

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language = "English",

series = "2021 Research on Equity and Sustained Participation in Engineering, Computing, and Technology, RESPECT 2021 - Conference Proceedings",

publisher = "Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.",

editor = "Christina Gardner-McCune and Grady, {Siobahn Day} and Yerika Jimenez and Ryoo, {Jean J.} and Rafi Santo and Jamie Payton",

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Forsyth, S, Dalton, B, Foster, EH, Walsh, B, Smilack, J & Yeh, T 2021, Imagine a More Ethical AI: Using Stories to Develop Teens' Awareness and Understanding of Artificial Intelligence and its Societal Impacts. in C Gardner-McCune, SD Grady, Y Jimenez, JJ Ryoo, R Santo & J Payton (eds), 2021 Research on Equity and Sustained Participation in Engineering, Computing, and Technology, RESPECT 2021 - Conference Proceedings. 2021 Research on Equity and Sustained Participation in Engineering, Computing, and Technology, RESPECT 2021 - Conference Proceedings, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2021 Research on Equity and Sustained Participation in Engineering, Computing, and Technology, RESPECT 2021, Virtual, Online, United States, 23/05/21. https://doi.org/10.1109/RESPECT51740.2021.9620549

Imagine a More Ethical AI: Using Stories to Develop Teens' Awareness and Understanding of Artificial Intelligence and its Societal Impacts. / Forsyth, Stacey; Dalton, Bridget; Foster, Ellie Haberl et al.
2021 Research on Equity and Sustained Participation in Engineering, Computing, and Technology, RESPECT 2021 - Conference Proceedings. ed. / Christina Gardner-McCune; Siobahn Day Grady; Yerika Jimenez; Jean J. Ryoo; Rafi Santo; Jamie Payton. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2021. (2021 Research on Equity and Sustained Participation in Engineering, Computing, and Technology, RESPECT 2021 - Conference Proceedings).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

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AU - Yeh, Tom

N1 - Funding Information: This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 1934151. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSF. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 IEEE.

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Forsyth S, Dalton B, Foster EH, Walsh B, Smilack J, Yeh T. Imagine a More Ethical AI: Using Stories to Develop Teens' Awareness and Understanding of Artificial Intelligence and its Societal Impacts. In Gardner-McCune C, Grady SD, Jimenez Y, Ryoo JJ, Santo R, Payton J, editors, 2021 Research on Equity and Sustained Participation in Engineering, Computing, and Technology, RESPECT 2021 - Conference Proceedings. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. 2021. (2021 Research on Equity and Sustained Participation in Engineering, Computing, and Technology, RESPECT 2021 - Conference Proceedings). doi: 10.1109/RESPECT51740.2021.9620549

Imagine a More Ethical AI: Using Stories to Develop Teens' Awareness and Understanding of Artificial Intelligence and its Societal Impacts

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Bibliographical note

Keywords

Access to Document

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Cite this