Session Description
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is in the process of revolutionizing the modern world and will have a profound impact on mankind (Brynjolfsson et al., 2018), but only a small percentage of the population has been able to access this powerful new tool. Research shows that as AI adoption continues to march onward, the benefits remain concentrated at the top - leaders are strengthening their competitive edge more than the rest are closing the gap (Chui et al., 2022). This further accentuates the much-discussed digital divide, suggesting that those who struggle to take the first step fall even further behind. At the moment, AI-powered platforms are largely unhindered by social, geographical, or financial barriers (aside from having access to a web-capable device), but most people do not know where to begin using such tools. This lack of knowledge exacerbates the many misconceptions that further hinder widespread adoption. Tyson & Kikuchi (2023) found that just 10% of Americans were more excited than concerned about AI use. Even though there are 5.19 billion internet users worldwide (Petrosyan, 2023), only 100 million have accessed ChatGPT (Hu & Hu, 2023), arguably the most accessible form of AI chatbot available, at least once. That's less than 2% of internet users. Only 18% of adult Americans have accessed ChatGPT (Park & Gelles-Watnick, 2023) while 91.5% of leading businesses forge ahead with ongoing AI investment and development (Watters, 2023).
As a learning tool, AI can address many of the challenges that adult learners face. This can be done by providing personalized, adaptive, and accessible learning experiences that can help them achieve their goals. However, AI is advancing at an exponential rate (Brynjolfsson et al., 2018), and US adults face an ever-increasing gap in knowledge and awareness. So while AI might be an incredibly powerful tool, most people do not know how to start using it, much less use it efficiently and effectively. Without a broader understanding and proficiency in the basics of AI use, there's a risk of exacerbating the digital divide and leaving many individuals ill-equipped to navigate the rapidly evolving technological landscape.
This course will start with an introduction to Artificial Intelligence by reframing the topic in basic terms and demonstrating how it is already being widely used. Then it will shift to the principal focus which is gaining in-depth, operational knowledge of a large language model (LLM) via a preset instructional template, followed by applying this foundational knowledge in a learning project. Once this foundation is laid, learners will examine and complete mini projects using four additional AI tools. Finally, the course will conclude with an overview of the ethical considerations pertaining to this emerging technology.
Presenter(s)
Dalen Kahiapo
Learning Design and Technology
Honolulu, HI, USA
Aloha! I was born and raised on Oahu, Hawaiʻi and have worked at the Center on Disability Studies as a learning and multimedia specialist for the last 17 years, primarily in STEM and cultural integration. In my free time, you can find me hiking remote trails in the Koʻolau mountains or surfing an obscure reef that hopefully no one else has found yet.