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TV companies try using smart computers to make shows

TV production companies are exploring the use of AI to generate ideas for new shows, but some experts argue that AI can never replicate the spark of human creativity.

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TV companies are starting to use artificial intelligence (AI) to help come up with new TV show ideas. Big companies like RTL Group and Banijay are trying this out. So far, no TV show made by AI has been shown to the public. Some experts think that AI can’t replace the special creativity that humans have.

AI can help in other ways, like watching live camera feeds and giving useful information quickly. Some TV producers think AI can help them come up with ideas faster and write scripts. They believe it can make the creative process quicker and better. But others think AI can’t match the unique creativity that humans bring.

Even though AI can help in TV production, it probably won’t replace human creativity. The best TV show ideas often come from taking risks and mixing different ideas, which AI might find hard to do. Still, AI can be a helpful tool for TV producers. It can make their work easier and help them think of new and exciting ideas.

Original news source: Will AI dream up the hit TV shows of the future? (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

Fast

📖 Vocabulary:

1artificialMade by humans, not natural
2intelligenceThe ability to learn and understand things
3creativityThe ability to make new and original ideas
4producersPeople who make TV shows or movies
5replaceTo take the place of something or someone
6uniqueOne of a kind, special
7processA series of actions to achieve something
8expertsPeople who know a lot about a subject
9informationFacts or details about something
10productionThe act of making something, like a TV show
11risksChances of something bad happening
12helpfulMaking things easier or better

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Headline Creation
Instructions: Divide the students into pairs or small groups. Give each group a few minutes to come up with a catchy headline for an article about AI in TV production. Encourage them to use their creativity and come up with attention-grabbing headlines. After the time is up, have each group share their headline with the class.

– Synonym Challenge
Instructions: Write down key words from the article on the board. Divide the students into pairs or small groups. Give each group a set amount of time to come up with as many synonyms as possible for each key word. After the time is up, have each group share their synonyms with the class. This activity will help expand their vocabulary and reinforce the words from the article.

– Opinion Spectrum
Instructions: Draw a horizontal line on the board and label one end “Agree” and the other end “Disagree”. Explain to the students that you will read out statements related to AI in TV production and they have to position themselves on the spectrum according to their opinion. For example, “AI can replace human creativity in TV production”. After each statement, have a brief discussion with the students to hear their reasons for their position.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the students into pairs or small groups. Give each group a few minutes to make a list of the pros and cons of using AI in TV production. Encourage them to think critically and consider both the advantages and disadvantages. After the time is up, have each group share their lists with the class and facilitate a discussion to hear different perspectives.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Have a class discussion about the future of AI in TV production. Ask the students to make predictions about how AI might be used in the industry in the coming years. Encourage them to think creatively and consider both the potential benefits and challenges. This activity will allow the students to practice expressing their opinions and using future tenses.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What are TV companies starting to use artificial intelligence (AI) for?
2. Have any TV shows made by AI been shown to the public yet?
3. What are some ways that AI can help TV producers?
4. Can AI replace the special creativity that humans have?
5. Why do some TV producers think AI can help them come up with ideas faster?
6. What do some experts think about AI replacing human creativity?
7. Why do the best TV show ideas often come from taking risks and mixing different ideas?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

TV (1)______ are starting to use artificial intelligence (AI) to help come up with new TV show ideas. Big companies like RTL Group and Banijay are trying this out. So far, no TV show made by AI has been (2)______ to the public. Some (3)______ think that AI can’t replace the special creativity that (4)______ have.

AI can help in other ways, like watching live (5)______ feeds and giving (6)______ information quickly. Some TV producers think AI can help them come up with ideas faster and write scripts. They believe it can make the creative process quicker and better. But (7)______ think AI can’t match the unique (8)______ that humans bring.

Even though AI can (9)______ in TV production, it probably won’t replace human creativity. The (10)______ TV show ideas often come from taking risks and mixing different ideas, which AI might find (11)______ to do. Still, AI can be a helpful tool for TV producers. It can make their (12)______ easier and help them think of new and exciting ideas.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is artificial intelligence (AI)?
2. How do TV companies use AI to come up with new TV show ideas?
3. Do you think AI can replace the special creativity that humans have? Why or why not?
4. How can AI help TV producers in other ways, besides coming up with ideas?
5. How do some TV producers think AI can make the creative process quicker and better?
6. Do you think AI can match the unique creativity that humans bring? Why or why not?
7. Why do the best TV show ideas often come from taking risks and mixing different ideas?
8. How can AI be a helpful tool for TV producers?
9. Do you think AI will ever replace human creativity in TV production? Why or why not?
10. How can AI make the work of TV producers easier?
11. How can AI help TV producers think of new and exciting ideas?
12. Do you think AI is a good thing for the TV industry? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. artificial
2. intelligence
3. creativity
4. producers
5. replace
6. unique
7. process
8. experts
9. information
10. production
11. risks
12. helpful

Meanings:
(A) People who make TV shows or movies
(B) The act of making something, like a TV show
(C) The ability to learn and understand things
(D) Made by humans, not natural
(E) The ability to make new and original ideas
(F) Facts or details about something
(G) A series of actions to achieve something
(H) One of a kind, special
(I) Chances of something bad happening
(J) People who know a lot about a subject
(K) Making things easier or better
(L) To take the place of something or someone
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What are TV companies starting to use artificial intelligence (AI) for?
(a) To replace human creativity
(b) To watch live camera feeds
(c) To help come up with new TV show ideas
(d) To write scripts

2. Which big companies are trying out AI in TV production?
(a) BBC and NBC
(b) Disney and Warner Bros
(c) Netflix and Hulu
(d) RTL Group and Banijay

3. Has any TV show made by AI been shown to the public?
(a) Yes
(b) No
(c) Maybe
(d) Not mentioned in the article

4. What do some experts think about AI in TV production?
(a) AI is better than human creativity
(b) AI is not helpful in any way
(c) AI is the future of TV production
(d) AI can’t replace the special creativity that humans have

5. How can AI help TV producers?
(a) By watching live camera feeds and giving useful information quickly
(b) By helping them come up with ideas faster and write scripts
(c) By replacing human creativity completely
(d) By making their work harder and slowing down the creative process

6. What do some TV producers believe about AI?
(a) It can make the creative process quicker and better
(b) It can’t match the unique creativity that humans bring
(c) It is not a helpful tool for TV producers
(d) It can replace human creativity completely

7. Why won’t AI replace human creativity in TV production?
(a) AI is not capable of helping TV producers
(b) AI is too expensive for TV production companies
(c) The best TV show ideas often come from taking risks and mixing different ideas
(d) AI is not advanced enough to be used in TV production

8. How can AI be a helpful tool for TV producers?
(a) It can make their work easier and help them think of new and exciting ideas
(b) It can replace the need for TV producers altogether
(c) It can make the creative process slower and worse
(d) It can’t help TV producers in any way

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. AI can make the creative process quicker and better, according to some TV producers.
2. Some experts believe that AI cannot replace the special creativity that humans have.
3. AI can help TV producers by watching live camera feeds and providing useful information quickly.
4. TV companies are not using artificial intelligence to come up with new TV show ideas.
5. AI might find it easy to take risks and mix different ideas, which are often the source of the best TV show ideas.
6. TV producers think AI can help them come up with ideas faster and write scripts.
7. Small companies like RTL Group and Banijay are not trying out AI for this purpose.
8. No TV show made by humans has been shown to the public yet.
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 TV companies starting to use artificial intelligence for?
2. Have any TV shows made by AI been shown to the public yet?
3. Can AI replace the special creativity that humans have?
4. How can AI help TV producers in the creative process?
5. Can AI come up with the best TV show ideas?

Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. TV companies are starting to use artificial intelligence (AI) to help come up with new TV show ideas.
2. No, no TV shows made by AI have been shown to the public yet.
3. AI can help TV producers by watching live camera feeds and giving useful information quickly. It can also help them come up with ideas faster and write scripts.
4. No, AI cannot replace the special creativity that humans have.
5. Some TV producers think AI can help them come up with ideas faster because it can make the creative process quicker and better.
6. Some experts think that AI cannot replace human creativity.
7. The best TV show ideas often come from taking risks and mixing different ideas because it makes the shows more unique and interesting.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) companies
(2) shown
(3) experts
(4) humans
(5) camera
(6) useful
(7) others
(8) creativity
(9) help
(10) best
(11) hard
(12) work
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. artificial
Answer: (D) Made by humans, not natural

2. intelligence
Answer: (C) The ability to learn and understand things

3. creativity
Answer: (E) The ability to make new and original ideas

4. producers
Answer: (A) People who make TV shows or movies

5. replace
Answer: (L) To take the place of something or someone

6. unique
Answer: (H) One of a kind, special

7. process
Answer: (G) A series of actions to achieve something

8. experts
Answer: (J) People who know a lot about a subject

9. information
Answer: (F) Facts or details about something

10. production
Answer: (B) The act of making something, like a TV show

11. risks
Answer: (I) Chances of something bad happening

12. helpful
Answer: (K) Making things easier or better
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What are TV companies starting to use artificial intelligence (AI) for?
Answer: (c) To help come up with new TV show ideas

2. Which big companies are trying out AI in TV production?
Answer: (d) RTL Group and Banijay

3. Has any TV show made by AI been shown to the public?
Answer: (b) No

4. What do some experts think about AI in TV production?
Answer: (d) AI can’t replace the special creativity that humans have

5. How can AI help TV producers?
Answer: (b) By helping them come up with ideas faster and write scripts

6. What do some TV producers believe about AI?
Answer: (a) It can make the creative process quicker and better

7. Why won’t AI replace human creativity in TV production?
Answer: (c) The best TV show ideas often come from taking risks and mixing different ideas

8. How can AI be a helpful tool for TV producers?
Answer: (a) It can make their work easier and help them think of new and exciting ideas
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. AI can make the creative process quicker and better, according to some TV producers. (Answer: True)
2. Some experts believe that AI cannot replace the special creativity that humans have. (Answer: True)
3. AI can help TV producers by watching live camera feeds and providing useful information quickly. (Answer: True)
4. TV companies are not using artificial intelligence to come up with new TV show ideas. (Answer: False)
5. AI might find it easy to take risks and mix different ideas, which are often the source of the best TV show ideas. (Answer: False)
6. TV producers think AI can help them come up with ideas faster and write scripts. (Answer: True)
7. Small companies like RTL Group and Banijay are not trying out AI for this purpose. (Answer: False)
8. No TV show made by humans has been shown to the public yet. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧

How about these other Level 2 articles?

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