How to Explain AI

Educational initiative to improve public understanding of AI

What is the project about?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly important in our everyday lives and in the way we interact as a society – a fact of which not everyone is fully aware. To ensure that members of the public without specialist expertise can realistically assess the opportunities and risks of AI and benefit from new technological developments, it is important to promote a basic understanding of AI (AI literacy).
In the ‘How to explain AI’ project, the LIT Robopsychology Lab is using a participatory process to investigate how understanding of AI can be increased among the general public: what basic knowledge and preconceptions do non-experts already have? What questions do members of the public ask about AI in relation to their everyday lives? And how must the answers be presented so that they spark interest and are accessible to as many people as possible?
To develop an innovative format for explaining AI, “How to explain AI” involves three groups of co-researchers: citizen scientists, artists and AI experts. Bringing them together offers the potential to identify relevant questions surrounding AI and to answer them in a substantively sound manner using novel, artistically accompanied forms of knowledge transfer. The aim of the process is to implement a specific intervention designed to promote public understanding of AI and to evaluate it through an impact study. The educational intervention could take various forms, ranging from a co-created stage performance to audiovisual installations in public spaces or a poster campaign.
The findings from the impact study on the intervention, as well as from the entire participatory research process, will be disseminated both within the scientific community and to the general public.

What is the goal of the project?

Aim of the project: Working together with the co-researchers, we will develop a specific initiative designed to enhance and promote public understanding of AI.
Benefits for participants: Improving basic AI literacy, engaging with interesting people, and contributing your own ideas and opinions.
In addition, in line with the LBG’s recommendations, co-researchers will also receive financial compensation for their involvement.

Who participates in the project?

Three groups of co-researchers: citizens; artists; AI experts
List of names and photos of all participants: www.jku.at/lit-robopsychology-lab/forschung/projekte/how-to-explain-ai/co-researchers

How are participants involved in the project?

All participants (co-researchers) took part in a series of three interactive workshops. Together with the citizens (citizen scientists), existing knowledge and outstanding questions regarding artificial intelligence were gathered and subsequently grouped into themes. In addition, ideas for the design of the intervention were collected. Examples of methods used included: World Café, brainwriting, small-group work and Octopus Clustering.
The group of artists focused on the variety of communication formats on the topic (e.g. rotating brainwriting, co-creative idea sheets).
The AI experts addressed the questions raised about AI in group discussions and developed answers to them.
Following this phase, a joint workshop was held with representatives from the previous groups – based on the preparatory work carried out with the co-researchers on questions, answers and forms of communication – in which potential forms of intervention were identified using brainwriting, the Gallery Method, idea posters, a decision matrix, as well as an intervention journey and prototyping.
Some of the participants will remain involved in reviews during the implementation phase of the intervention and in communicating the project’s content and results.

How are participants recruited for the project?

Citizen Scientists and Artists: A public call for participants on the project website, which has been sent to a wide range of outreach organisations in Linz and the surrounding area for dissemination: Innovationshauptplatz, district centres, Haus der Frau, HOSI, Kulturplattform KUPF OÖ, various cultural associations, University of Art and Design Linz, Scout groups, Volunteer Fire BrigadeAI Experts: Targeted approach to individuals identified via a snowball sampling method, in order to achieve the widest possible range of practical insights within the small group (JKU graduate, university institute, start-up, software company, industry)

What publications have emerged from the project?

• Article in the LBG OIS Newsletter, January 2023
• Lightning talk at the Austrian Citizen Science Conference 2023
• Interview for OÖN Career Magazine, Issue 11, Apr–Oct 2023 (ePaper or as a PDF download (pp. 12–15))
• Guest article in KURIER: Further photos and information on the project documentation can be found on the website

Project lead

Dr. Martina Mara, Johannes Kepler Universität Linz, LIT Robopsychology Lab

znegvan.znen@wxh.ng

Project website

https://www.jku.at/lit-robopsychology-lab/forschung/projekte/how-to-explain-ai/