AI Basics
True or false: AI “understands” the meaning of what it says the way humans do.
False
True or False - AI systems use algorithms, but not all algorithms are AI
True
Bias can happen even when no one intends harm. True or false?
True
When platforms promote posts that trigger strong reactions, they’re often optimizing for this
What is engagement?
Name any U.S. president who is not Washington, Lincoln, Obama, Biden, or Trump.
I will know
This is why AI can sound confident while still being wrong.
What is because it predicts patterns (not truth)?
A calculator solving 14 × 8 is which: algorithm or AI and WHY?
What is algorithm, because it follows fixed rules and doesn’t learn/change?
AI "learns" mainly from this...
The training data it is given
Emotional content tends to spread because it gets more of this.
What are clicks/likes/comments/shares/watch time (engagement)?
The empire that ruled central Mexico before being conquered by Spain in the early 1500s...
The Aztecs
Name one thing AI is NOT, according to common misconceptions we discussed
What is conscious / emotional / morally aware / “thinking like a human”? (Any one acceptable)
TikTok changing your For You Page over time based on your behavior is which: algorithm or AI (in our class definitions), and why?
What is AI? (because it updates predictions from data)
Give one way bias can enter an AI system.
What is unrepresentative data / historical inequality in data / missing groups / biased labels / goals prioritizing speed/profit over fairness? (Any one)
How can going after engagement mainly increase misinformation?
What is because attention-grabbing content gets boosted even when it’s wrong?
The "conflict" where the US and USSR beefed for like 40 years but didn't DIRECLTY fight is called...
Cold War
AI systems are primarily designed to do this using patterns in data...
Make Predictions
A “basic” spam filter that blocks any email containing “FREE” is which: algorithm or AI? Why?
What is algorithm, because it’s a fixed rule (keyword = block), not learning patterns?
Bad training data can lead to harm through this course of events...
What is the AI learns flawed patterns → makes flawed predictions → those predictions affect real people unfairly?
Finish the loop: Misinformation → more engagement → algorithm boosts it → more ____
What is misinformation?
The machine that made books super easy to make in the mid 1400s and spread information a ton...
The Printing Press
Name ONE app whose short-form video feed uses AI to predict what you’ll watch next
Reels Systems (Tiktok, YT shorts, Insta Shorts)
OUTSIDE OF THIS CLASS, An algorithm is best described as this...
What is a step-by-step set of instructions/rules?
If an AI is trained mostly on wealthy neighborhoods, it may _____ for other neighborhoods
What is perform poorly / be less accurate / miss patterns outside that data?
Name one factor besides "the algorithm" that shapes what you see online.
What is algorithmic ranking, ads, trends, influencers, follower incentives, platform rules, monetization, etc.? (Any one)
Name five major wars from history (must be real, named conflicts)
(I will know)