Billions Of People Need To Learn AI Literacy

AI literacy is essential for making informed decisions and harnessing AI’s potential, highlighting the need for widespread understanding and critical evaluation.

What is it? And why is it important?

Let’s start with the second one first. The reason that AI literacy is critical is that AI is the new immersive technology.

First we had actual literacy, “literacy 1.0,” that distinguished the power elites of the first millennium (and first half of the second millennium) from the common folk. Literacy was power! Then, very recently in the grand scheme of things, we had computer literacy: the “haves” knowing how to, say, operate Microsoft Excel.

Now, suddenly, we have the need for AI literacy, the same kinds of gaps in power that arise with any literacy movement, where first movers will gain exceptional power, and everyone else will be, to an extent, left behind.

So then, what is AI literacy? It’s a good question, because, unlike “literacy 1.0,” the answer is pretty complex.

The test of the initial type of literacy was simply: Can you read? Or, how well can you read? There are about 50 symbols, give or take, on a page. It’s measurable – and we do measure it, for every child, everywhere in the country.

AI literacy, on the other hand…

I came across this definition by Matt Crabtree at Data Camp. He describes AI literacy in detail, but includes this:

“It’s about viewing these technologies critically, understanding their context, and questioning their design and implementation. It’s also about being able to discern the benefits and challenges of AI while making informed decisions about its use.”

So at its core, it’s more about manipulating reality with technologies than it is about memorizing word spelling or sounding out phonetics. It’s just a different animal.[…]