Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a really important technology, but we have to be careful with it, says a top executive at Google. Matt Brittin, who is in charge of Google in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, thinks that AI can bring big advancements to different industries. That’s why Google is teaming up with the University of Cambridge to research AI in areas like robots, healthcare, and climate change. They want to figure out the good things about AI and also the risks, so they can use it in a responsible way.
Google and the University of Cambridge are working together before a big meeting about AI safety in the UK. At the meeting, important people from the industry will talk about the future of AI. People are talking about AI a lot because they’re not sure if it’s a good thing or a bad thing. They also want to make rules about how AI should be developed. Matt Brittin thinks that if we use AI in the right way, it can help with healthcare, clean energy, and education, and give opportunities to everyone.
Zoubin Ghahramani, who works at Google DeepMind and is a professor at Cambridge University, thinks that AI can help with climate change. For example, AI can be used to make flight paths better and reduce the damage to the environment from planes. Google cares a lot about the environment and has used AI to make its data centers use less energy. They’ve also done projects around the world to make pollution less and help with fuel efficiency.
But some people are worried that the AI industry might use up a lot of energy and be bad for the environment. They think that if AI grows too fast, it could use as much energy as a small country. It’s important to only use AI when we really need it and think about the environment too.
In the end, AI is a really promising technology, but we have to be responsible with it. Google and the University of Cambridge are working together to find out the good things about AI and also the risks, and to find ways to use it that are good for the environment. We have to find a balance between using AI’s power and not hurting the environment.
Original news source: Google boss: AI too important not to get right (BBC)
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Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– News Summary
Instructions: Have students read the article and write a summary of the main points in their own words. After they have finished, have them share their summaries with a partner and discuss any differences or similarities. Finally, have a class discussion and ask students to share their summaries with the whole class.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Each group should discuss their opinions on the topic of AI and its potential benefits and risks. After they have had time to discuss, have each group create a set of poll questions related to the topic. Once the questions are ready, have each group take turns asking their questions to the rest of the class. The class can then vote or give their opinions on each question.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write a list of key vocabulary words from the article on the board. Divide the class into pairs or small groups. One student from each group will choose a word from the list and draw a picture to represent it, while the rest of the group tries to guess the word. The group that guesses correctly earns a point. Continue playing until all the words have been used or time is up. The group with the most points wins.
– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Give each group a timer and a copy of the article. Set a time limit (e.g. 5 minutes) and have each group work together to summarize the article as quickly and accurately as possible. After the time is up, have each group share their summary with the class. The class can then compare the different summaries and discuss any differences or similarities.
– Future Predictions
Instructions: Have students work individually or in pairs to discuss and make predictions about the future of AI. They should consider both the potential benefits and risks mentioned in the article. After they have had time to discuss, have a class discussion and ask students to share their predictions. Encourage them to support their predictions with evidence or reasoning from the article.
Comprehension Questions:
1. According to the article, why is it important to be careful with artificial intelligence (AI)?
2. What are some of the areas that Google and the University of Cambridge are researching AI in?
3. What is the purpose of the upcoming meeting about AI safety in the UK?
4. What are some potential benefits of using AI in healthcare, clean energy, and education?
5. How can AI be used to help with climate change?
6. What concerns do some people have about the AI industry and its impact on the environment?
7. What steps has Google taken to reduce energy usage and help with pollution using AI?
8. What is the overall message of the article regarding the responsible use of AI and its impact on the environment?
Go to answers ⇩
Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a really important technology, but we have to be careful with it, says a top executive at Google. Matt Brittin, who is in charge of Google in Europe, the (1)______ East, and Africa, thinks that AI can (2)______ big advancements to different industries. That’s why Google is teaming up with the University of (3)______ to (4)______ AI in areas like robots, healthcare, and climate change. They want to figure out the good things about AI and also the risks, so they can use it in a responsible way.
Google and the University of Cambridge are working together before a big meeting about AI safety in the UK. At the meeting, important people from the (5)______ will talk about the future of AI. People are talking about AI a lot because they’re not sure if it’s a good thing or a bad thing. They also want to make rules about how AI should be developed. Matt (6)______ thinks that if we use AI in the right way, it can help with (7)______, (8)______ energy, and education, and give opportunities to everyone.
Zoubin Ghahramani, who works at Google DeepMind and is a professor at Cambridge University, (9)______ that AI can help with (10)______ change. For (11)______, AI can be used to make flight paths better and (12)______ the damage to the environment from planes. Google cares a lot about the environment and has used AI to make its data centers use less energy. They’ve also done projects around the world to make pollution less and help with fuel efficiency.
But some people are worried that the AI industry might use up a lot of energy and be bad for the environment. They think that if AI grows too fast, it could use as much energy as a small country. It’s (13)______ to only use AI when we really need it and think about the environment too.
In the end, AI is a really promising technology, but we have to be responsible with it. (14)______ and the University of Cambridge are working together to find out the good (15)______ about AI and also the risks, and to find ways to use it that are good for the environment. We have to find a balance between using AI’s (16)______ and not hurting the environment.
Go to answers ⇩
Discussion Questions:
Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.
1. What is artificial intelligence and why is it important?
2. How do you think AI can bring advancements to different industries?
3. Do you think AI is a good thing or a bad thing? Why or why not?
4. How would you feel if AI was used to improve healthcare in your country?
5. What are some potential risks of using AI? How can we mitigate these risks?
6. Do you think AI can help with climate change? Why or why not?
7. How do you think AI can be used to reduce damage to the environment from planes?
8. Are you worried about the AI industry using up a lot of energy? Why or why not?
9. What are some ways we can ensure responsible use of AI?
10. How do you think AI can be used to help with education?
11. Do you think AI has the potential to give opportunities to everyone? Why or why not?
12. How can we find a balance between using AI’s power and protecting the environment?
13. What are some other industries where AI could be beneficial?
14. How do you think AI can be used to make our daily lives better?
15. Do you think AI will play a big role in the future? Why or why not?
Individual Activities
Vocabulary Meanings:
Match each word to its meaning.
Words:
1. Artificial Intelligence (AI)
2. advancements
3. responsible
4. industry
5. risks
6. climate change
7. environment
8. balance
Meanings:
(a) The long-term change in weather patterns and temperatures on Earth
(b) A specific area of business or activity
(c) Improvements or progress in a particular field or area
(d) Finding a middle ground between two opposing forces or ideas
(e) Acting in a careful and thoughtful way
(f) Possible dangers or negative outcomes
(g) A type of technology that can think and learn like a human
(h) The natural world, including the air, water, and land
Go to answers ⇩
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. Who is in charge of Google in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa?
(a) Zoubin Ghahramani
(b) Mark Zuckerberg
(c) Sundar Pichai
(d) Matt Brittin
2. What is the purpose of Google and the University of Cambridge’s collaboration?
(a) To develop rules about how AI should be developed
(b) To make flight paths better and reduce environmental damage
(c) To use AI in a responsible way
(d) To research AI in areas like robots, healthcare, and climate change
3. Why are people talking about AI a lot?
(a) They want to find ways to use AI that are good for the environment
(b) They want to make AI use less energy
(c) They’re not sure if it’s a good thing or a bad thing
(d) They want to develop AI for healthcare, clean energy, and education
4. How does Zoubin Ghahramani think AI can help with climate change?
(a) By making flight paths better and reducing environmental damage
(b) By reducing energy usage in data centers
(c) By making pollution less and improving fuel efficiency
(d) By providing opportunities for everyone
5. What are some concerns about the AI industry?
(a) It might use up a lot of energy and be bad for the environment
(b) It might not be able to help with healthcare, clean energy, and education
(c) It might not be developed in a responsible way
(d) It might not bring advancements to different industries
6. What is the main message of the article?
(a) AI can bring big advancements to different industries
(b) Google and the University of Cambridge are collaborating to research AI
(c) AI is a promising technology, but we have to be responsible with it
(d) AI has the potential to help with climate change
7. What is the purpose of the upcoming meeting about AI safety in the UK?
(a) To develop rules about how AI should be developed
(b) To discuss the future of AI
(c) To find ways to use AI that are good for the environment
(d) To research AI in areas like robots, healthcare, and climate change
8. What is the importance of finding a balance with AI?
(a) To ensure AI is developed in a responsible way
(b) To use AI’s power without hurting the environment
(c) To make sure AI doesn’t use up too much energy
(d) To find ways to use AI that are good for healthcare, clean energy, and education
Go to answers ⇩
True or False Questions:
1. Google DeepMind and Cambridge University do not believe that AI can contribute to reducing the environmental damage caused by planes, among other things.
2. There will not be a meeting in the UK where industry experts will discuss the future of AI and establish guidelines for its development.
3. The purpose of their research is not to use AI in a responsible way and understand its impact on different industries.
4. They are particularly interested in exploring AI’s potential in areas like robots, healthcare, and climate change.
5. Google and the University of Cambridge are not collaborating to research the benefits and risks of artificial intelligence (AI).
6. Concerns have been raised about the energy consumption of the AI industry, with fears that it could rival that of a small country if not managed properly.
7. AI has the potential to positively impact healthcare, clean energy, and education, providing opportunities for everyone.
8. It is crucial to strike a balance between utilizing the power of AI and minimizing its negative impact on the environment.
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. Why does Matt Brittin think it’s important to be careful with AI?
2. What are some areas that Google and the University of Cambridge are researching AI in?
3. What is the purpose of the big meeting about AI safety in the UK?
4. How does Zoubin Ghahramani think AI can help with climate change?
5. What are some concerns people have about the AI industry and the environment?
Answers
Comprehension Question Answers:
1. According to the article, it is important to be careful with artificial intelligence (AI) because there are potential risks associated with its use. It is important to understand these risks and use AI in a responsible way.
2. Google and the University of Cambridge are researching AI in areas such as robots, healthcare, and climate change.
3. The purpose of the upcoming meeting about AI safety in the UK is to discuss the future of AI and establish rules for its development.
4. Some potential benefits of using AI in healthcare, clean energy, and education include improved healthcare outcomes, more efficient use of energy, and enhanced educational opportunities for everyone.
5. AI can help with climate change by optimizing flight paths to reduce environmental damage caused by planes. Additionally, AI can be used to improve energy efficiency and reduce pollution.
6. Some people are concerned that the AI industry may consume a significant amount of energy and have a negative impact on the environment. They worry that if AI grows too quickly, it could use as much energy as a small country.
7. Google has taken steps to reduce energy usage and help with pollution using AI. For example, they have used AI to make their data centers more energy-efficient and have implemented projects worldwide to reduce pollution and improve fuel efficiency.
8. The overall message of the article is that AI is a promising technology, but it is important to use it responsibly and consider its impact on the environment. Google and the University of Cambridge are working together to understand the benefits and risks of AI and find ways to use it that are environmentally friendly.
Go back to questions ⇧
Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:
(1) Middle
(2) bring
(3) Cambridge
(4) research
(5) industry
(6) Brittin
(7) healthcare
(8) clean
(9) thinks
(10) climate
(11) example
(12) reduce
(13) important
(14) Google
(15) things
(16) power
Go back to questions ⇧
Vocabulary Meanings Answers:
1. Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Answer: (g) A type of technology that can think and learn like a human
2. advancements
Answer: (c) Improvements or progress in a particular field or area
3. responsible
Answer: (e) Acting in a careful and thoughtful way
4. industry
Answer: (b) A specific area of business or activity
5. risks
Answer: (f) Possible dangers or negative outcomes
6. climate change
Answer: (a) The long-term change in weather patterns and temperatures on Earth
7. environment
Answer: (h) The natural world, including the air, water, and land
8. balance
Answer: (d) Finding a middle ground between two opposing forces or ideas
Go back to questions ⇧
Multiple Choice Answers:
1. Who is in charge of Google in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa?
Answer: (d) Matt Brittin
2. What is the purpose of Google and the University of Cambridge’s collaboration?
Answer: (d) To research AI in areas like robots, healthcare, and climate change
3. Why are people talking about AI a lot?
Answer: (c) They’re not sure if it’s a good thing or a bad thing
4. How does Zoubin Ghahramani think AI can help with climate change?
Answer: (a) By making flight paths better and reducing environmental damage
5. What are some concerns about the AI industry?
Answer: (a) It might use up a lot of energy and be bad for the environment
6. What is the main message of the article?
Answer: (c) AI is a promising technology, but we have to be responsible with it
7. What is the purpose of the upcoming meeting about AI safety in the UK?
Answer: (b) To discuss the future of AI
8. What is the importance of finding a balance with AI?
Answer: (b) To use AI’s power without hurting the environment
Go back to questions ⇧
True or False Answers:
1. Google DeepMind and Cambridge University do not believe that AI can contribute to reducing the environmental damage caused by planes, among other things. (Answer: False)
2. There will not be a meeting in the UK where industry experts will discuss the future of AI and establish guidelines for its development. (Answer: False)
3. The purpose of their research is not to use AI in a responsible way and understand its impact on different industries. (Answer: False)
4. They are particularly interested in exploring AI’s potential in areas like robots, healthcare, and climate change. (Answer: True)
5. Google and the University of Cambridge are not collaborating to research the benefits and risks of artificial intelligence (AI). (Answer: False)
6. Concerns have been raised about the energy consumption of the AI industry, with fears that it could rival that of a small country if not managed properly. (Answer: True)
7. AI has the potential to positively impact healthcare, clean energy, and education, providing opportunities for everyone. (Answer: True)
8. It is crucial to strike a balance between utilizing the power of AI and minimizing its negative impact on the environment. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧
