Some companies say they use smart robots called AI to look cool and smart. But sometimes, they are not telling the whole truth. For example, Amazon said their stores let people shop without paying at a cash register. But really, people in India help make it work. This is called AI washing, like saying you are very green when you are not.

Many companies say they use AI, but they might not really use it. They want people to think they are very smart and new. But often, they don’t show real robot work. There are no clear rules about what AI is, so companies can say what they want. Some people are starting to make rules to stop this.

Original news source: What is ‘AI washing’ and why is it a problem? (BBC)

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– CHARADES
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group will take turns acting out vocabulary words related to the article (e.g., smart, robot, shop, truth) without speaking, while the other groups guess the word.

– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Prepare a few questions related to the article (e.g., “Do you think companies should be honest about using AI?”). Have students walk around and ask each other the questions, then share their opinions with the class.

– MIND MAP
Instructions: On a large paper or whiteboard, write “AI” in the center. Have students brainstorm and add related words or phrases from the article (e.g., robots, truth, companies) to create a mind map together.

– VOCABULARY PICTIONARY
Instructions: Choose key vocabulary words from the article. Students take turns drawing the word on the board while their classmates guess what it is. This helps reinforce their understanding of the vocabulary.

– THINK-PAIR-SHARE
Instructions: Pose a question related to the article, such as “What do you think about companies using AI?” Students first think about their answer individually, then pair up to discuss their thoughts, and finally share their conclusions with the class.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What do some companies say they use to look cool and smart?
2. What is the name of the smart robots that companies talk about?
3. Who helps Amazon make their stores work in India?
4. What is the name of the trick when companies say they use AI but they really don’t?
5. Why do companies want people to think they are very smart and new?
6. What do some people want to make to help with the truth about AI?
7. Why is it hard to know what AI really is?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Some companies say they use smart robots called AI to (1)______ cool and smart. But sometimes, they are not (2)______ the whole truth. For example, Amazon said their stores let people shop without (3)______ at a cash register. But really, people in India help make it work. This is called AI washing, like (4)______ you are very green when you are not.

(5)______ companies say they use AI, but they might not really use it. They want (6)______ to think they are very smart and new. But often, they don’t (7)______ real robot (8)______. There are no clear rules about what AI is, so companies can say what they want. Some people are starting to make rules to stop this.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is a robot to you?
2. Do you like robots? Why or why not?
3. How would you feel if a robot helped you shop?
4. What is a store?
5. Do you think it is good to use robots in stores? Why?
6. Have you ever seen a robot? Where?
7. What is something you want a robot to do for you?
8. How would you feel if a robot made a mistake?
9. Do you think companies should tell the truth about robots? Why?
10. What is something that makes you feel happy?
11. Do you think people will use more robots in the future? Why or why not?
12. How would you feel if you had a robot friend?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. companies
2. robots
3. truth
4. register
5. India
6. washing
7. green
8. rules
9. smart
10. work

Meanings:
(A) Things you must follow, like instructions
(B) A machine where you pay for things in a store
(C) A big country with lots of people and culture
(D) The color of grass and leaves
(E) Doing a job or task
(F) Clever and quick to understand
(G) Groups of people who make and sell things
(H) Machines that can do tasks by themselves
(I) What is real and not a lie
(J) Cleaning something with water and soap
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What do some companies say they use to look smart?
(a) AI
(b) Robots
(c) Computers
(d) Phones

2. What did Amazon say their stores let people do?
(a) Eat food
(b) Play games
(c) Sleep
(d) Shop without paying

3. Who helps make Amazon’s stores work in India?
(a) Animals
(b) People
(c) Robots
(d) Cars

4. What is it called when companies say they use AI but do not?
(a) AI playing
(b) AI helping
(c) AI washing
(d) AI running

5. Why do companies say they use AI?
(a) To make food
(b) To play music
(c) To look smart and new
(d) To sell toys

6. What is missing about AI that makes it hard to know what it is?
(a) Clear rules
(b) Fun games
(c) Big robots
(d) Fast cars

7. What are some people starting to do about the truth of AI?
(a) Sing songs
(b) Draw pictures
(c) Play sports
(d) Make rules

8. What do companies want people to think about them?
(a) They are very funny
(b) They are very smart
(c) They are very big
(d) They are very old

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Some companies claim they use intelligent robots called AI.
2. Many corporations claim to implement AI, but they may not actually use it.
3. There are ambiguous regulations regarding what AI constitutes.
4. Amazon has stores where people can shop without paying at a cash register.
5. Some people want to make rules to stop companies from lying about AI.
6. People in India help make Amazon’s stores work.
7. This is called AI washing.
8. Companies strive to appear trendy and intelligent.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What do some companies say they use to look cool and smart?
2. What did Amazon say their stores let people do?
3. Who helps make Amazon’s stores work in India?
4. What is it called when companies say they use AI but might not really use it?
5. Why do some people want to make rules about AI?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What do some companies say they use to look cool and smart?
Some companies say they use smart robots.

2. What is the name of the smart robots that companies talk about?
The smart robots are called AI.

3. Who helps Amazon make their stores work in India?
People in India help Amazon.

4. What is the name of the trick when companies say they use AI but they really don’t?
The trick is called AI washing.

5. Why do companies want people to think they are very smart and new?
They want people to think they are smart to look good.

6. What do some people want to make to help with the truth about AI?
Some people want to make rules.

7. Why is it hard to know what AI really is?
It is hard because there are no clear rules about AI.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) look
(2) telling
(3) paying
(4) saying
(5) Many
(6) people
(7) show
(8) work
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. companies
Answer: (G) Groups of people who make and sell things

2. robots
Answer: (H) Machines that can do tasks by themselves

3. truth
Answer: (I) What is real and not a lie

4. register
Answer: (B) A machine where you pay for things in a store

5. India
Answer: (C) A big country with lots of people and culture

6. washing
Answer: (J) Cleaning something with water and soap

7. green
Answer: (D) The color of grass and leaves

8. rules
Answer: (A) Things you must follow, like instructions

9. smart
Answer: (F) Clever and quick to understand

10. work
Answer: (E) Doing a job or task
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What do some companies say they use to look smart?
Answer: (a) AI

2. What did Amazon say their stores let people do?
Answer: (d) Shop without paying

3. Who helps make Amazon’s stores work in India?
Answer: (b) People

4. What is it called when companies say they use AI but do not?
Answer: (c) AI washing

5. Why do companies say they use AI?
Answer: (c) To look smart and new

6. What is missing about AI that makes it hard to know what it is?
Answer: (a) Clear rules

7. What are some people starting to do about the truth of AI?
Answer: (d) Make rules

8. What do companies want people to think about them?
Answer: (b) They are very smart
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Some companies claim they use intelligent robots called AI. (Answer: False)
2. Many corporations claim to implement AI, but they may not actually use it. (Answer: False)
3. There are ambiguous regulations regarding what AI constitutes. (Answer: False)
4. Amazon has stores where people can shop without paying at a cash register. (Answer: True)
5. Some people want to make rules to stop companies from lying about AI. (Answer: True)
6. People in India help make Amazon’s stores work. (Answer: True)
7. This is called AI washing. (Answer: True)
8. Companies strive to appear trendy and intelligent. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧