Some people are also worried that Microsoft 365 Copilot might not follow the new rules for AI. In Europe and China, there are rules that say people need to know if they're talking to an AI. Colette Stallbaumer, who is in charge of Microsoft 365, thinks it's up to the person using Copilot to make it clear. But the EU says it's the companies that make AI tools who need to make sure they're used responsibly.
When Copilot was shown in a demo, it was able to summarize a long chain of emails and come up with a response in just a few seconds. It could also make a PowerPoint presentation based on a Word document and give summaries of discussions in Teams meetings. But there were some things it couldn't do. Copilot will cost $30 a month and needs an internet connection to work.
Some people think this kind of technology might mess up jobs in administration. They worry about relying too much on AI tools and the risks of things going wrong, like system failures, hacking, glitches, or changes in rules. It's important for people and companies to use AI tools responsibly and know about the possible problems and risks that come with them.
Original news source: Microsoft's new AI assistant can go to meetings for you (BBC)
π Vocabulary:
Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– News Summary
Instructions: Students will read the article individually and then work in pairs or small groups to summarize the main points in their own words. They can take turns sharing their summaries with the class.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Each group will discuss their opinions on the use of AI assistants like Microsoft 365 Copilot. They can then create a poll with questions about the topic and conduct a survey among their classmates. Afterwards, they can present their findings to the class.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Select key vocabulary words from the article and write them on separate pieces of paper. Each student will take turns choosing a word and drawing a quick sketch to represent it. The rest of the class will try to guess the word based on the drawing. This activity will help reinforce vocabulary retention and understanding.
– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into two groups: one group will discuss the pros of using AI assistants like Microsoft 365 Copilot, while the other group will discuss the cons. Students can take turns presenting their arguments and engaging in a class debate. This activity will encourage critical thinking and the ability to express opinions.
– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Have the students think individually about the potential benefits and drawbacks of using AI assistants in the workplace. Then, pair them up and have them discuss their thoughts with a partner. Finally, ask a few pairs to share their ideas with the whole class. This activity promotes reflection and collaborative discussion.
π€ Comprehension Questions:
Microsoft's new AI assistant is called Microsoft 365 Copilot.
Microsoft 365 Copilot will be available for everyone to use starting from 1 November.
Microsoft 365 Copilot can do tasks like summarizing meetings in Teams, writing emails, and creating documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.
Some people are concerned that Microsoft 365 Copilot might replace human workers and make us rely too much on AI. They also worry about the risks of system failures, hacking, glitches, or changes in rules.
In Europe and China, there are rules that say people need to know if they're talking to an AI. The EU believes it's the responsibility of the companies that make AI tools to ensure they are used responsibly.
Colette Stallbaumer, who is in charge of Microsoft 365, thinks it's up to the person using Copilot to make it clear if they are talking to an AI.
In a demo, Copilot was able to summarize a long chain of emails and come up with a response in just a few seconds. It could also create a PowerPoint presentation based on a Word document and provide summaries of discussions in Teams meetings.
Some potential problems and risks associated with using AI tools include system failures, hacking, glitches, or changes in rules. It is important for people and companies to use AI tools responsibly and be aware of these possible issues.
π§βοΈ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
Microsoft has made a new AI assistant called Microsoft 365 Copilot. It will be available for everyone to use starting from 1 November. This AI assistant is built into Microsoft's office apps and can do lots of things like summarizing in , writing emails, and documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. Microsoft hopes that this tool will get rid of boring work, but some people worry that it might replace workers and make us rely too much on AI. Some people are also that Microsoft 365 Copilot might not follow the new rules for AI. In Europe and China, there are rules that say people need to know if they're talking to an AI. Stallbaumer, who is in of Microsoft 365, thinks it's up to the person using Copilot to make it clear. But the EU says it's the companies that make AI tools who need to make sure they're used responsibly. When Copilot was shown in a demo, it was able to summarize a long chain of and come up with a response in just a few seconds. It could also make a presentation based on a Word and give summaries of discussions in Teams meetings. But there were some it couldn't do. Copilot will cost $30 a month and needs an internet connection to work. Some people think this kind of technology might mess up jobs in administration. They worry about relying too much on AI tools and the risks of things going wrong, like failures, hacking, glitches, or changes in . It's important for people and to use AI tools responsibly and know about the problems and risks that come with them.
π¬ Discussion Questions:
1. What is an AI assistant?
2. How would you feel if your job was replaced by an AI assistant?
3. Do you like the idea of using AI tools to do boring work? Why or why not?
4. Do you think AI tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot will make us rely too much on technology? Why or why not?
5. How do you think AI tools can be used responsibly?
6. Why do you think some people are worried about AI tools not following the rules?
7. How would you feel if you couldn't tell if you were talking to a human or an AI assistant?
8. Do you think it's fair for the EU to say that companies should be responsible for AI tools? Why or why not?
9. How would you feel if an AI assistant could summarize your emails and respond to them for you?
10. What do you think are the risks of relying too much on AI tools in administration jobs?
11. How do you think AI tools can help improve productivity in the workplace?
12. Why do you think it's important for people and companies to know about the possible problems and risks of using AI tools?
13. Do you think $30 a month is a reasonable price for an AI assistant? Why or why not?
14. How do you think AI tools can be protected from system failures, hacking, glitches, or changes in rules?
15. What do you think the future of AI assistants will be like?
Individual Activities
ππ Vocabulary Meanings:
Click a dot next to a word, then click the dot next to its meaning to draw a line connecting them.
Words
Meanings
π‘ Multiple Choice Questions:
π΅οΈ True or False Questions:
π Write a Summary:
Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
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