Many bosses want people who know how to use smart computer things called AI. They are looking for these smart helpers more than before. AI can help do work faster and better, like helping to pick the best person for a job or making computer programs. But some people who work feel like there is too much to learn about AI. They don’t know how to use it yet.

Little companies can do more work with AI without needing more things or people. A lady who helps run a website uses AI to write and make her website better. But it’s important for companies to remember to still talk and act like real people, not just use computers. They also have to be careful that the AI is fair and safe. People can learn about AI by trying new things and taking classes on the internet. Bosses and workers should think about why they want to use AI. It’s good to use both people and AI together.

Original news source: What do employers expect staff to know about AI? (BBC)

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Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. Each team takes turns choosing a word related to AI from a hat and acting it out without speaking. The other team has to guess what word they are acting out. The team with the most correct guesses wins.

– News Summary
Instructions: Give each student a copy of the article. In pairs, students take turns summarizing one paragraph of the article to their partner. After each summary, the partner has to guess which paragraph it was.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Write two statements on the board related to AI, such as “AI will replace human jobs” and “AI will make our lives easier.” Have students stand up and move to one side of the room if they agree with the statement and the other side if they disagree. After everyone has chosen, have a few students share their reasons for their choice.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write a list of AI-related vocabulary words on the board. Divide the class into pairs. One student from each pair chooses a word from the list and has to draw it while their partner tries to guess what it is. The pair with the most correct guesses wins.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Have students work in pairs or small groups. Each group has to come up with three predictions about how AI will be used in the future. They can write or draw their predictions on a piece of paper. After they are done, each group shares their predictions with the class.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What are bosses looking for when they want people to know about AI?
2. How can AI help with work?
3. Why do some people feel like there is too much to learn about AI?
4. How can little companies do more work with AI?
5. How does the lady use AI to make her website better?
6. Why is it important for companies to still talk and act like real people?
7. How can people learn about AI?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Many bosses want people who know how to use smart computer things (1)______ AI. They are looking for these smart (2)______ more than before. AI can help do work faster and better, like helping to pick the best person for a job or making computer programs. But some people who work feel like there is too much to learn about AI. They don’t (3)______ how to use it yet.

Little companies can do more work with AI without (4)______ more things or people. A lady who helps run a website uses AI to write and make her website better. But it’s important for (5)______ to remember to still talk and act like real people, not just use (6)______. They also have to be careful that the AI is (7)______ and safe. People can learn about AI by trying new things and taking classes on the (8)______. Bosses and workers should think about why they want to use AI. It’s good to use both people and AI together.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is AI?
2. How would you feel if you had to learn about AI for your job?
3. Do you like using computers? Why or why not?
4. Do you think AI can help companies do more work? Why or why not?
5. What are some things that AI can help with?
6. How do you think AI can make computer programs?
7. Do you think it’s important for companies to still talk and act like real people? Why or why not?
8. What does it mean for AI to be fair and safe?
9. Have you ever tried learning something new on the internet? What was it?
10. Why do you think bosses and workers should think about why they want to use AI?
11. Do you think it’s better to use people and AI together? Why or why not?
12. Can you think of any other ways that AI can be helpful?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. computer
2. learn
3. website
4. people
5. work
6. boss
7. company
8. class
9. internet
10. together

Meanings:
(A) A place on the computer where you can find information and play games
(B) A group of people who work together
(C) A special school where you can learn new things
(D) Other humans
(E) The person who tells you what to do at work
(F) A machine that can do math and play games
(G) Doing something to make money
(H) Doing something with other people
(I) To find out new things and understand them
(J) A place on the computer where you can look at things and read
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What are bosses looking for when they want people who know how to use AI?
(a) Big computers
(b) Smart helpers
(c) Fast workers
(d) Real people

2. How can AI help companies do more work?
(a) Without needing more things or people
(b) By hiring more workers
(c) By using big computers
(d) By talking and acting like real people

3. How can people learn about AI?
(a) By asking their boss for help
(b) By trying new things and taking classes on the internet
(c) By using big computers
(d) By talking and acting like real people

4. What is important for companies to remember when using AI?
(a) To use big computers
(b) To hire more workers
(c) To still talk and act like real people
(d) To use AI for everything

5. Why is it good to use both people and AI together?
(a) Because AI can do work faster and better
(b) Because people can talk and act like real people
(c) Because people can learn from AI
(d) Because AI can write and make websites better

6. What is AI?
(a) Smart computer things
(b) Big computers
(c) Fast workers
(d) Real people

7. What can AI help with?
(a) Hiring more workers
(b) Using big computers
(c) Talking and acting like real people
(d) Doing work faster and better

8. What do some people feel about learning about AI?
(a) That it is easy to learn
(b) That it is not important to learn
(c) That it is fun to learn
(d) That there is too much to learn

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. Bosses want people who know how to use smart computer things called AI.
2. Companies should still talk and act like real people, not just use computers.
3. A lady uses AI to write and make her website better.
4. AI cannot help do work faster and better.
5. People cannot learn about AI by trying new things and taking classes on the internet.
6. Little companies can do more work with AI without needing more things or people.
7. Some people don’t feel like there is too much to learn about AI.
8. Companies don’t have to be careful that the AI is fair and safe.
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 bosses looking for when they want people to know how to use AI?
2. How can AI help people do work faster and better?
3. Why do some people feel like there is too much to learn about AI?
4. How can little companies do more work with AI?
5. Why is it important for companies to still talk and act like real people when using AI?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What are bosses looking for when they want people to know about AI?
They want people who know how to use smart computer things called AI.

2. How can AI help with work?
AI can help do work faster and better, like helping to pick the best person for a job or making computer programs.

3. Why do some people feel like there is too much to learn about AI?
Some people feel like there is too much to learn about AI because they don’t know how to use it yet.

4. How can little companies do more work with AI?
Little companies can do more work with AI without needing more things or people.

5. How does the lady use AI to make her website better?
The lady uses AI to write and make her website better.

6. Why is it important for companies to still talk and act like real people?
It is important for companies to still talk and act like real people so that they don’t just use computers.

7. How can people learn about AI?
People can learn about AI by trying new things and taking classes on the internet.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) called
(2) helpers
(3) know
(4) needing
(5) companies
(6) computers
(7) fair
(8) internet
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. computer
Answer: (F) A machine that can do math and play games

2. learn
Answer: (I) To find out new things and understand them

3. website
Answer: (J) A place on the computer where you can look at things and read

4. people
Answer: (D) Other humans

5. work
Answer: (G) Doing something to make money

6. boss
Answer: (E) The person who tells you what to do at work

7. company
Answer: (B) A group of people who work together

8. class
Answer: (C) A special school where you can learn new things

9. internet
Answer: (A) A place on the computer where you can find information and play games

10. together
Answer: (H) Doing something with other people
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What are bosses looking for when they want people who know how to use AI?
Answer: (b) Smart helpers

2. How can AI help companies do more work?
Answer: (a) Without needing more things or people

3. How can people learn about AI?
Answer: (b) By trying new things and taking classes on the internet

4. What is important for companies to remember when using AI?
Answer: (c) To still talk and act like real people

5. Why is it good to use both people and AI together?
Answer: (c) Because people can learn from AI

6. What is AI?
Answer: (a) Smart computer things

7. What can AI help with?
Answer: (d) Doing work faster and better

8. What do some people feel about learning about AI?
Answer: (d) That there is too much to learn
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. Bosses want people who know how to use smart computer things called AI. (Answer: True)
2. Companies should still talk and act like real people, not just use computers. (Answer: True)
3. A lady uses AI to write and make her website better. (Answer: True)
4. AI cannot help do work faster and better. (Answer: False)
5. People cannot learn about AI by trying new things and taking classes on the internet. (Answer: False)
6. Little companies can do more work with AI without needing more things or people. (Answer: True)
7. Some people don’t feel like there is too much to learn about AI. (Answer: False)
8. Companies don’t have to be careful that the AI is fair and safe. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧