Is AI Literate?
Michael Ridley · 2017
Artificial intelligence (AI) technology exhibits decision-making capabilities in specific domains on par with or exceeding that of human experts. Similarly, AI is increasingly making more mundane, if complex, decisions such as driving a car. AI such as IBM’s Watson ingest and synthesize enormous amounts of information. But is Watson literate? Do AI reflect literacy practices? Extending the idea of literacy or of being literate to AI challenges many assumptions about computers and ourselves. If we conclude that AI are literate, what does this mean for the idea of literacy? This exploration begins with two contentious ideas: What do we mean by AI? What do we mean by literacy?