Algorithms and Generative AI: Pitfalls and possibilities for students

Your students spend a lot of time on social media, but do they know why certain content appears on their feeds? Algorithms are powerful but often invisible forces shaping our online experiences — whose interests are they designed to promote? This presentation will help you dive into the world of algorithms and generative artificial intelligence so you can teach students to consider the civic and social impact of these technologies. You’ll preview the News Literacy Project’s “Introduction to Algorithms” and “Making Sense of Data” Checkology lessons to gain an understanding of how search and social media algorithms work; explore the opportunities and pitfalls of large language model chatbots; and learn about the evolution of AI image generators, such as DALL-E. We’ll also take a look at where these technologies are heading and discuss their implications for civic discourse, student research and pedagogical practice.