Big bosses in Europe made new rules for smart computers that can think like people. These rules are the first ones like this in the whole world. They talk about how these smart computers can be used safely. People who make these smart computers have to follow these rules. If they don’t, they might have to pay money.

The rules won’t start until a few years from now. But they are very important. They help make sure that the smart computers are good and don’t hurt anyone. People in Europe want to be the best at making these smart computers. Other places like America and China are making their own rules too.

Original news source: AI: EU agrees landmark deal on regulation of artificial intelligence (BBC)

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Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Write a brief summary of the article, using your own words. Focus on the main points and try to condense the information into 2-3 sentences.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Give each group a set of vocabulary words from the article. One person from each group will have to draw a picture representing one of the words, while the others guess what it is.

– Keyword Hangman
Instructions: Choose 5-10 important keywords from the article and write them on the board using dashes to represent the letters. Have the students take turns guessing letters to fill in the blanks and try to guess the keywords.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into two groups. Assign one group to list the pros of smart computers, and the other group to list the cons. After a few minutes, have each group share their lists and discuss as a class.

– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: Pair up the students and give each pair a copy of the article. Set a timer for 2 minutes and have the students take turns summarizing the article to their partner. After the time is up, switch partners and repeat the activity.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What did the big bosses in Europe make rules for?
2. Are these rules the first ones in the whole world?
3. What do the rules talk about?
4. Who has to follow these rules?
5. What might happen if people don’t follow the rules?
6. When will the rules start?
7. Why are the rules important?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Big bosses in Europe made new (1)______ for smart computers that can think like people. These rules are the first (2)______ like this in the whole world. They talk about how these smart computers can be (3)______ safely. People who (4)______ these smart computers have to follow these rules. If they don’t, they might have to pay money.

The rules won’t start until a few years from now. But they are very important. They (5)______ make sure that the (6)______ computers are good and don’t (7)______ anyone. People in Europe want to be the (8)______ at making these smart computers. Other places like America and China are making their own rules too.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

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

1. What are smart computers?
2. How would you feel if a smart computer could think like a person?
3. Do you think it’s important for smart computers to be used safely? Why or why not?
4. What do you think might happen if people don’t follow the rules for smart computers?
5. Do you think Europe should be the best at making smart computers? Why or why not?
6. How do you think the rules for smart computers can help make sure they don’t hurt anyone?
7. What other places are making their own rules for smart computers?
8. Do you like the idea of smart computers? Why or why not?
9. How do you think smart computers can be helpful in our daily lives?
10. What do you think the rules for smart computers will be like?
11. How do you think smart computers are different from regular computers?
12. Do you think smart computers will become more popular in the future? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. computers
2. rules
3. smart
4. people
5. Europe
6. money
7. hurt
8. important
9. places
10. own

Meanings:
(A) Belonging to you and no one else
(B) To cause pain or harm to someone
(C) Instructions that tell you what you can and can’t do
(D) Machines that can think and do things like humans
(E) Something that is very necessary and you can’t live without it
(F) Locations or areas
(G) A big area of land with many countries
(H) Humans, like you and me
(I) Being clever and knowing a lot of things
(J) Something you use to buy things
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Who made new rules for smart computers in Europe?
(a) Small bosses
(b) Smart computers
(c) People in America
(d) Big bosses

2. What do the rules talk about?
(a) How to make money with smart computers
(b) How to hurt people with smart computers
(c) How to be the best at making smart computers
(d) How to use smart computers safely

3. When will the rules start?
(a) In a few years
(b) Tomorrow
(c) Next week
(d) Right now

4. Why are the rules important?
(a) They make sure smart computers are good and don’t hurt anyone
(b) They make sure smart computers are bad and hurt everyone
(c) They make sure smart computers are expensive
(d) They make sure smart computers are small

5. Who wants to be the best at making smart computers?
(a) People in America
(b) People in China
(c) People in Europe
(d) People everywhere

6. What might happen if people don’t follow the rules?
(a) They might get a present
(b) They might have to pay money
(c) They might get a new computer
(d) They might get a job

7. Who else is making their own rules for smart computers?
(a) Europe and China
(b) Europe and America
(c) America and China
(d) Europe, America, and China

8. What are the rules for?
(a) Smart computers that can’t think like people
(b) Smart computers that can think like people
(c) Dumb computers that can think like people
(d) Dumb computers that can’t think like people

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. The rules won’t start until a few years from now.
2. Big bosses in Europe made new rules for smart computers that can think like people.
3. These rules are the first ones like this in the whole world.
4. People who make these smart computers have to follow these rules.
5. Other places like America and China are not making their own rules too.
6. The rules don’t talk about how these smart computers can be used safely.
7. The rules are not important to make sure the smart computers are good and don’t hurt anyone.
8. If they don’t follow the rules, they won’t have to pay money.
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 are the new rules about?
2. Who made the new rules for smart computers?
3. What happens if people don’t follow the rules?
4. When will the rules start?
5. Why are the rules important?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What did the big bosses in Europe make rules for?
They made rules for smart computers that can think like people.

2. Are these rules the first ones in the whole world?
Yes, these rules are the first ones in the whole world.

3. What do the rules talk about?
The rules talk about how to use smart computers safely.

4. Who has to follow these rules?
The people who make smart computers have to follow these rules.

5. What might happen if people don’t follow the rules?
They might have to pay money.

6. When will the rules start?
The rules will start in a few years from now.

7. Why are the rules important?
The rules are important to make sure that the smart computers are good and don’t hurt anyone.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) rules
(2) ones
(3) used
(4) make
(5) help
(6) smart
(7) hurt
(8) best
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. computers
Answer: (D) Machines that can think and do things like humans

2. rules
Answer: (C) Instructions that tell you what you can and can’t do

3. smart
Answer: (I) Being clever and knowing a lot of things

4. people
Answer: (H) Humans, like you and me

5. Europe
Answer: (G) A big area of land with many countries

6. money
Answer: (J) Something you use to buy things

7. hurt
Answer: (B) To cause pain or harm to someone

8. important
Answer: (E) Something that is very necessary and you can’t live without it

9. places
Answer: (F) Locations or areas

10. own
Answer: (A) Belonging to you and no one else
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Who made new rules for smart computers in Europe?
Answer: (d) Big bosses

2. What do the rules talk about?
Answer: (d) How to use smart computers safely

3. When will the rules start?
Answer: (a) In a few years

4. Why are the rules important?
Answer: (a) They make sure smart computers are good and don’t hurt anyone

5. Who wants to be the best at making smart computers?
Answer: (c) People in Europe

6. What might happen if people don’t follow the rules?
Answer: (b) They might have to pay money

7. Who else is making their own rules for smart computers?
Answer: (c) America and China

8. What are the rules for?
Answer: (b) Smart computers that can think like people
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. The rules won’t start until a few years from now. (Answer: True)
2. Big bosses in Europe made new rules for smart computers that can think like people. (Answer: True)
3. These rules are the first ones like this in the whole world. (Answer: True)
4. People who make these smart computers have to follow these rules. (Answer: True)
5. Other places like America and China are not making their own rules too. (Answer: False)
6. The rules don’t talk about how these smart computers can be used safely. (Answer: False)
7. The rules are not important to make sure the smart computers are good and don’t hurt anyone. (Answer: False)
8. If they don’t follow the rules, they won’t have to pay money. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧