AI Basics: Getting Everyone into the Conversation about AI
Written by Martin Percy
As you know, the AI revolution represents a milestone in human history. It will present all of us with big challenges and serious choices, both political and social.
But how do we get people to think and talk about it? The usual approach is through films, TV shows and YouTube videos. These work well in some ways – they’re great for telling stories. But there's a problem. It's all one way. The filmmaker talks, everyone else just sits and listens, and any debate must wait until the film is over. We don’t just need stories about AI – we need conversations where everyone gets involved.
That's why we made "AI Basics: Thrills or Chills?", funded by Innovate UK. It's what we call a ‘participatory documentary workshop’. This is a fancy way of saying that it's a film where the views of the audience are part of the film. It's an attempt to break down the wall between the people making the film and the people watching it.
I made the film in collaboration with Professor Liz Karns from Cornell University; social care lecturer Abiba Aliyu; digital expert Jenny Lam; digital and behavioural expert Gillan Ward; and many others. Here's how it works: it’s a two-hour workshop that features four interactive films, each 10 minutes long, with plenty of time for discussion after each short film. What makes it different is that the audience isn't just watching – their views are part of the film. So every session is unique.
We ask big questions about AI. For example, the workshop starts and ends by asking the same question: "How important do you think AI is?”. The audience is given a selection of three choices: a) AI is as important as the Internet, b) AI is as important as the Industrial Revolution, or c) AI is as important as the evolution of humans.
We’ve done dozens of sessions of the workshop so far. And it's interesting to see how people's views often change during a session. For example, when asked the question above about the importance of AI, the most common answer both at the beginning and end is that AI is as important as the Industrial Revolution. But at the start of the film, the second most common answer is usually that it's only as important as the Internet. By the end, however, this has usually changed, so that the second-place view is that AI is as important as the evolution of humans.
These shifting views mark a significant difference between this workshop and a previous participatory workshop that I made for UAL called “Climate Emergency Interactive”. With the Climate workshops, people usually came in with clear opinions about all key issues. They left with the same opinions – though they often felt more energised and passionate. In contrast, with the AI Basics sessions, it's different: people often completely change their minds. This tells us something important: many people have not yet considered the key questions around AI. They are still figuring out what they believe. This means that the impact that participatory documentary workshops can have is considerable.
At the end of November 2024, we ran a GREAT session of AI Basics at the E-Lab at King’s College, Cambridge. It was brilliantly organised by the legend that is Kamiar Mohaddes, ably assisted by Rhys Williams and Sophie Harbour. At the King’s session we had complete beginners sitting next to world class experts on AI risk; yet another benefit of participatory formats. You might think that such disparity would be awkward but it actually made for some wonderful discussions. Everyone joined in at their own level and added something useful. A few days later, I ran another session at a secondary school in an economically challenged area near Tilbury Docks. The conversation was perhaps not quite as sparkling – but the students still got stuck in and engaged with what the ideas meant for them.
My experience with this venture so far has demonstrated that when we're dealing with something as important and as complex as the AI revolution, we need to do more than just lecture people about it or tell them stories. We must get them to actively think it through and discuss it. AI Basics is not just about learning facts to do with AI – it's about trying to work out what the AI revolution means for us all. !
Watch the trailer for "AI Basics: Thrills or Chills?”: AI BASICS - trailer https://youtu.be/llpT6PYk6Xc
Martin Percy and his team are still running sessions, both online and face-to-face. They charge when they can, but are happy to do sessions free of charge. If you want to try it out or would like to run a session at your organisation, please get in touch with Martin at: martin@martinpercy.com.
Many thanks to Kamiar Mohaddes, Rhys Williams and Sophie Harbour. AI Basics was originally funded by Innovate UK as part of The inclusive AI Project, with special thanks to Richard Foxall and Paul Walke.
Martin Percy
Martin Percy (King’s College, 1982, English and theology) makes interactive films that turn viewers into doers. He has won several notable awards including a BAFTA, an Emmy, and eleven Webby Awards and has shared his insights on various stages, including with a TEDx talk. He makes films through which the audience becomes a part of the story; whether that's learning CPR and saving lives or joining discussions about AI and climate change.