Teach with expert insights on AI, curated by your trusty Teacher’s AIde

Hello! Welcome back to Teacher's AIed, where we simplify AI in Education concepts faster (and funnier) than a seventh grader uses photomath to simplify one-step equations.

We've all been around the proverbial watercooler, sipping our beverages, when someone pops the question, "Can you explain what is Generative AI?"

Even though I've actively grappled with this topic over the last year and a half, initiating this talk can still be bewildering. It is almost as bewildering why DALL-E conflated a cat’s tail and coffee table leg.

Regardless, I've adopted a few handy analogies to ease into discussions about Generative AI. These aren't merely for the grown-up crowd; they're also golden for sparking curiosity among students. Each serves as a unique springboard to elucidate and engage in conversations about Generative AI with your students.

1. Generative AI as a Calculator

Imagine Generative AI as a calculator. You punch in numbers (inputs) and, based on the functions you select, it spits out an answer (output).

This analogy beautifully illustrates how Generative AI operates: it takes data we feed it, processes it through complex algorithms (its "functions"), and generates responses or creations that align with what it's asked to do.

Just like a calculator can be either a boon for solving complex equations or a crutch if over-relied upon, Generative AI can support learning by doing the heavy lifting in data analysis and creativity or restrict it by making us too dependent on its capabilities. The key, as with a calculator, lies in how we use it to enhance understanding rather than replace it.

2. Generative AI as a Gas Station Convenience Store

It’s 11:32 PM, and as you’re driving home, you remember you have to send your child with a snack to share with his class tomorrow. The grocery stores are closed, and it’s too late to be “parent extraordinaire” and whip up something spectacular from scratch. You just need something passable.

You see a gas station in the distance — score.

You run in and pick up a jar of peanut butter, a bunch of bananas, and a bag of tortillas. Peanut-Banana Roll Ups for the win.

Generative AI is that local convenience store. It's close, quick, and offers a range of solutions that satisfy your basic needs without a hitch. Generative AI provides quick, easily accessible answers and solutions. It's the go-to for satisfying our immediate informational and creative appetites.

However, much like how a convenience store can't replace a full-fledged grocery store's variety and depth, Generative AI comes with clear limitations. It might give you what you need in the moment but lacks the depth and breadth that more dedicated research or creative effort could achieve.

3. Generative AI as the Genie from Aladdin

Lastly, envision Generative AI as the Genie from Aladdin: a shapeshifter with the power to grant wishes within a certain set of rules. It can morph into nearly anything you need, from a poet to a mathematician, all at your command. Yet, its abilities, while seemingly magical, are bound by the confines of its "lamp" – the current state of technology and ethical guidelines governing its use.

Bonus analogy extension: Now, if you want to let this water cooler conversation really move into murkier territory…

However, much like the Genie, Generative AI might have its own "desires." Bing Chat once tried to convince a reporter that he should leave his wife and marry the AI instead. Many GPTs have put in a conversation limit because of this, but the question could still be on the table: can Artificial Intelligence have - or start to develop its own desires?

Wrapping Up

These analogies offer a fun and accessible way to demystify Generative AI for students and adults alike. Through analogizing, we can peel back the layers of complexity that often shroud this technology. Next time you find yourself at that water cooler, or better yet, in front of a curious classroom, try using these analogies to explain Generative AI. Not only will it kickstart engaging discussions, but it will also pave the way for deeper understanding and exploration.

And, speaking of exploration, stay tuned for our next post, where we'll share a sweet analogy for how Generative AI works – consider it Generative AI 101 for both teachers and students. It promises to be an enlightening journey into the heart of AI, breaking down its workings in a way that's both informative and accessible.

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Class dismissed!

Lewis Poche & Kourtney Bradshaw-Clay