💻 TechnologyGrade 4Lesson 4
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Identify Responsible vs Harmful AI Uses

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Learning Objectives

  • 1Distinguish between responsible and harmful uses of AI
  • 2Explain why fairness, transparency, and safety matter in AI
  • 3Identify examples of deceptive or privacy-violating AI uses
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Mini Lesson

AI is a powerful tool, but not all uses of AI are good. Some uses of AI help people and society — these are called responsible AI uses. Others can deceive, harm, or unfairly treat people — these are harmful AI uses. Understanding the difference is an essential digital literacy skill.

Responsible AI

  • Fair: the AI treats all people equally and does not discriminate based on race, gender, or background.
  • Transparent: users know when they are interacting with AI and how decisions are made.
  • Safe: the AI is designed to protect people from harm and to follow ethical rules.
  • Examples: AI translating languages for accessibility, AI detecting diseases early, AI tutoring systems that help all students.

Harmful AI

  • Deceptive: AI that creates fake news articles, fake voices, or deepfake videos to mislead people.
  • Biased: AI trained on unfair data that produces discriminatory outcomes (e.g. rejecting loan applications based on race).
  • Privacy-violating: AI that collects and shares personal data without permission.
  • Manipulative: AI that targets people's emotions or weaknesses to change their behavior.
  • Example: Deepfake technology can put false words in a real person's mouth, damaging their reputation.

How to Evaluate AI Responsibly

  • Ask: Does this AI treat everyone fairly?
  • Ask: Is it clear that AI is being used, and how does it make decisions?
  • Ask: Could this AI be used to harm, deceive, or invade privacy?
Responsible vs Harmful AIResponsible vs Harmful AIResponsible AIHarmful AIFair to all usersTransparentProtects privacyHelps peopleDeceptive / fakeBiased outcomesInvades privacyManipulates peopleWe choose how to use AI — responsibility matters
3-Question Check for Responsible AI3-Question AI Check1. Is it fair?Does it treat everyone equally, regardless of background?2. Is it transparent?Do people know AI is being used and how it decides?3. Could it cause harm?Could it deceive, discriminate, or invade privacy?Use this checklist before trusting or sharing AI content
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Tip: Responsible AI is Fair, Transparent, and Safe. Harmful AI can be Deceptive, Biased, or Privacy-violating. Remember: F-T-S vs D-B-P.

Vocabulary
responsible AI
AI that is fair, transparent, and designed to protect people from harm.
harmful AI
AI used to deceive, discriminate against, or manipulate people.
bias
Unfair preference for or against a group of people, which can be built into AI if training data is unequal.
privacy
The right of individuals to control their personal information.
ethical
Following principles of what is right and fair in decision-making.
transparent
Open and clear about how something works or decisions are made.
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