You have the option to use generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) for two assignments this week: brainstorming interview questions and simulating an interview. Using AI is free, and you don't even have to create an account to start one unless you chose to use the Pro version.

What is Generative AI?

I recommend reading What is Generative AI?, a resource provided by our university eLearning office, which explains how it works and what it can and cannot do.

Purpose/Benefits

If you choose use generative AI, it's a chance for you to learn with and about AI using strategies (that I provide) to enhance learning outcomes and mitigate risks. AI has the potential to enhance learning by adapting content and activities to individual needs, abilities, and interests. The use of AI in this class is meant to serve as a supportive tool rather than a replacement for student thinking/work.

General Guidelines

It is completely optional to use AI for assignments.
Do not use AI for other assignments unless I offer it as an option, and use it according to my parameters for each assignment.
Do not give personal/identifiable information to AI about anyone (such as your interviewee's name). Anything you share may be used as training data for the AI. Only share what you are comfortable sharing with AI.
You may end interactions with the AI at any time.
Approach these activities with a spirit of experimentation, discerning for yourself whether or not they add valuable to your learning experience.
Remain the "human in the loop" by

critically assessing and interrogating AI outputs rather than passively accepting them;
combining the AI's capabilities with your insights.
using AI as a supportive tool for your work, not a replacement.

AI can lose track of the goal/prompt you provide to it, so you may need to remind it or rephrase your prompt several times. No single strategy will be effective for all scenarios, so the strategies that I provide may cause confusion. As always, please reach out to me for help.

AI Concerns and Risks

AI can make up facts. Our use of AI is for brainstorming questions and practicing skills rather than attempting to gather accurate information, which requires different strategies than I provide. AI may generate biases, stereotypes, and caricatures in part because I ask that you do not provide it with detailed personal information about your interviewee for privacy.

Bias in AI: Origins and Solutions feat. Dr. Joy Buolamwini | ASK MORE OF AI with Clara Shih

There is no assignment for this video, but please watch to 11:15 of this interview that raises awareness of AI biases. Dr. Joy Buolamwini is the founder of the Algorithmic Justice League, author of the book Unmasking AI, and partner on the film Coded Bias. She discusses how to use AI while valuing what is human, the societal impact of data scraping, and the need for algorithmic auditing to check for and address bias.

Reference

I referred to this source to inform our assignment guidelines and design our AI activities: Dr. Ethan Mollick Dr. Lilach Mollick, authors of "ASSIGNING AI: SEVEN APPROACHES FOR STUDENTS WITH PROMPTSLinks to an external site." (Revised September 24, 2023).