Play with AI to Improve your AI Literacy

“By far, the greatest danger of Artificial Intelligence is that people conclude too early that they understand it.” — Eliezer Yudkowsky.

It feels like AI is everywhere, which it is. From smart assistants to personalized recommendations on streaming services, artificial intelligence is shaping (and changing) the way we interact with the world. The good news? It’s easier than ever to integrate AI into your daily routine. The bad news? How do you understand what is just hype and what benefits actually exist? The only way to increase your AI literacy is to play with it.

The trick to gaining proficiency with any tool is to practice. Pick an area, or two, and start using AI-powered tools to improve that area. Any basic approach is to understand, evaluate, then use¹. This can be in the form of writing help, exploring chatbots for quick answers, creative brainstorming, or just some fun conversations. These tools not only make life more convenient but give you firsthand experience with how AI processes language, context, and user input². Start small and experiment. Track what benefit you get from the tools and how it speeds up or slows down certain tasks. This will help you understand the benefits and boundaries of AI solutions.

Once you get the hang of AI in basic tasks, it’s time to dive deeper. Search for or ask AI about machine learning algorithms, which are used by eCommerce and streaming apps to provide recommendations to you. Try experimenting with AI to help you with more advanced tasks such as planning trips or photo editing. These experiences help you understand the complex behind-the-scenes processes and raise your AI literacy in fun, engaging ways³.

Lastly, don’t be afraid to challenge your AI knowledge by exploring more complex tools. Take a course on AI, explore predictive analytics apps, or even dip your toes into AI programming through training platforms. Experiment with vibe coding to spin up a custom application. The beauty of using AI regularly is that it becomes less intimidating over time, and you get to see the real-world impact of emerging technologies.

Action: Experiment with AI to increase your literacy.

Bonus: For a primer on AI, check out my book.

Further Reading:

1. Promoting AI Literacy In The Classroom: 7 Strategies For Success
2. Overview of Chatbots with special emphasis on artificial intelligence-enabled ChatGPT in medical science
3. Attention Is All You Need