Breaking News English Lesson: A.I. Love

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Scientists fear people will fall in love with AI voices (12th August 2024)

The Reading / Listening - A.I. Love - Level 6

OpenAI, the company that owns ChatGPT, is worried that people may become emotionally dependent on artificial intelligence voices. The company released a new "advanced voice mode" to users last week. The chatbot comes equipped with an array of lifelike voices that are almost indistinguishable from human voices. They can have an authentic conversation in real time, laugh at the right time, interject with "umms," "aahs" and "hmms," and they can adjust to being interrupted. An OpenAI report states that the newly-released, human-sounding voices may lead people to rely on AI for companionship, and even for romance and love. It cautioned: "Users might form social relationships with the AI, reducing their need for human interaction."

The OpenAI report warns that future chatbots could fundamentally change societies. They will reshape how we interact with family, friends and colleagues. They may even usurp communication among humans. The report points to benefits of the new tool. These include bringing comfort and friendship to lonely people, and giving confidence to those who lack self-confidence. The report says people may gain enough confidence to start dating in the real world. On the flip side, chatbots could cause people to be ruder, more impatient and more selfish. Wired.com writes that the new chatbot includes "the potential…to amplify societal biases, spread disinformation, and aid in the development of chemical or biological weapons".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

A.I. Love - Level 4 or A.I. Love - Level 5

Sources

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/08/08/tech/openai-chatgpt-voice-mode-human-attachment/index.html
https://www.popsci.com/technology/openai-jerks/
https://www.wired.com/story/openai-voice-mode-emotional-attachment/

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. A.I. LOVE: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about A.I. love. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
emotionally dependent / artificial intelligence / voices / chatbots / conversation / love
change societies / colleagues / friendship / dating / disinformation / chemical weapons
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. HEALTH WARNING: Students A strongly believe AI chatbots should have mental-health warnings on them; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. HUMAN INTERACTION: How do we interact differently with these people (things)? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Formality	Information	Trust
An AI Chatbot
A parent
A teacher
Best friend
A sales assistance
A doctor

MY e-BOOK

ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

See a sample

5. CHATBOT: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "chatbot". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. BENEFITS OF A.I.: Rank these with your partner. Put the biggest benefits at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

Companionship
Reduced human error
Decision making
Essay writing
Customer service
Medical diagnoses
Education
Information

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	dependent	a.	A group of things arranged in a certain order.
2.	mode	b.	Needing (too much) help from someone or something to do something.
3.	array	c.	Real, not fake.
4.	authentic	d.	So similar that you can't tell them apart.
5.	indistinguishable	e.	An option allowing a change in the method of operation of a device.
6.	interject	f.	The feeling of being with someone, not alone.
7.	companionship	g.	To say something suddenly while someone else is speaking.

Paragraph 2

8.	fundamentally	h.	To take someone else's or something else's place or power (without permission).
9.	usurp	i.	To make something louder or stronger.
10.	lack	j.	In a basic or important way.
11.	the flip side	k.	When you don't have enough of something.
12.	amplify	l.	A preference for one thing over another, sometimes unfairly.
13.	bias	m.	The other side, argument or part of something
14.	biological	n.	Related to living things or life.

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

ChatGTP owns the tech company OpenAI. T / F
We can't tell the difference between ChatGPT voices and human voices. T / F
The new chatbot uses natural fillers like "umm" and "aah". T / F
A report suggested people may fall in love with chatbot voices. T / F
The report said AI could greatly change society. T / F
The chatbot could help shy people start dating. T / F
The article says chatbots will help people become better mannered. T / F
AI could be used to create biological weapons. T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

dependent
mode
array
authentic
interaction
fundamentally
usurp
gain
amplify
biases

contact
line-up
intensify
structurally
genuine
reliant
increase in
prejudices
function
remove

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

people may become emotionally
interject with "
they can adjust to being
lead people to rely
reducing their need for human
They may even usurp communication
those who lack
On the flip
the potential to amplify societal
spread

on AI for companionship
side
dependent
biases
interrupted
"umms," "aahs" and "hmms"
disinformation
interaction
self-confidence
among humans

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

voices
authentic
reducing
dependent
cautioned
mode
rely
interject

OpenAI, the company that owns ChatGPT, is worried that people may become emotionally (1) _____________________ on artificial intelligence voices. The company released a new "advanced voice (2) _____________________" to users last week. The chatbot comes equipped with an array of lifelike (3) _____________________ that are almost indistinguishable from human voices. They can have an (4) _____________________ conversation in real time, laugh at the right time, (5) _____________________ with "umms," "aahs" and "hmms," and they can adjust to being interrupted. An OpenAI report states that the newly-released, human-sounding voices may lead people to (6) _____________________ on AI for companionship, and even for romance and love. It (7) _____________________: "Users might form social relationships with the AI, (8) _____________________ their need for human interaction."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

flip
chatbots
weapons
impatient
biases
benefits
lack
colleagues

The OpenAI report warns that future (9) _____________________ could fundamentally change societies. They will reshape how we interact with family, friends and (10) _____________________. They may even usurp communication among humans. The report points to (11) _____________________ of the new tool. These include bringing comfort and friendship to lonely people, and giving confidence to those who (12) _____________________ self-confidence. The report says people may gain enough confidence to start dating in the real world. On the (13) _____________________ side, chatbots could cause people to be ruder, more (14) _____________________ and more selfish. Wired.com writes that the new chatbot includes "the potential…to amplify societal (15) _____________________, spread disinformation, and aid in the development of chemical or biological (16) _____________________".

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) ChatGPT is worried that people may ______
     a. become emotionally dependence
     b. become emotionally depending
     c. become emotionally dependent
     d. become emotionally depend ant
2) an array of lifelike voices that are almost indistinguishable ______
     a. from human voices
     b. from humane voices
     c. from humanly voices
     d. from hue man voices
3) have an authentic conversation in real time, laugh at the right time, ______
     a. interject with "umms"
     b. inter-jest with "umms"
     c. inject with "umms"
     d. interact with "umms"
4) the newly-released, human-sounding voices may lead people to ______
     a. relied on AI
     b. relay on AI
     c. really on AI
     d. rely on AI
5) form social relationships with the AI, reducing their need ______
     a. for human interactive
     b. for human into action
     c. for human in traction
     d. for human interaction

6) The OpenAI report warns that future chatbots could ______
     a. fundamentally charge societies
     b. fundamentally changed societies
     c. fundamentally change societies
     d. fundamentally exchange societies
7) friendship to lonely people, and giving confidence to those who ______
     a. lack self-confident
     b. lack self-confidence
     c. lack serf-confidence
     d. luck serf-confidence
8) On the flip side, chatbots could cause people ______
     a. to be rudder
     b. to brooder
     c. to be ruder
     d. to broader
9) Wired.com writes that the new chatbot includes "the potential…to ______
     a. amplify societal bison
     b. amplify societal bias is
     c. amplify societal bases
     d. amplify societal biases
10) and aid in the development of chemical ______
     a. or biologically weapons
     b. or biology weapons
     c. or biological weapons
     d. orb illogical weapons

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

OpenAI, the company that owns ChatGPT, is (1) ____________________ may become emotionally dependent on artificial intelligence voices. The company released a new "(2) ____________________" to users last week. The chatbot comes equipped with an array of lifelike voices that are almost indistinguishable from human voices. They can (3) ____________________ conversation in real time, laugh at the right time, interject with "umms," "aahs" and "hmms," and they can (4) ____________________ interrupted. An OpenAI report states that the newly-released, human-sounding voices may lead people (5) ____________________ AI for companionship, and even for romance and love. It cautioned: "Users might form social relationships with the AI, (6) ____________________ for human interaction."

The OpenAI report warns that future chatbots could fundamentally change societies. They will reshape how (7) ____________________ family, friends and colleagues. They (8) ____________________ communication among humans. The report points to benefits of the new tool. These include bringing comfort and friendship to lonely people, and giving confidence to (9) ____________________ self-confidence. The report says people may gain enough confidence to start dating in the real world. On (10) ____________________, chatbots could cause people to be ruder, more impatient and more selfish. Wired.com writes that the new chatbot includes "the (11) ____________________ societal biases, spread disinformation, and aid in the development of (12) ____________________ weapons".

Comprehension questions

What might people become emotionally dependent on?
What is the new chatbot almost indistinguishable from?
What does the new chatbot interject conversation with?
What can the new AI chatbot adjust to?
What might AI reduce the need for?
What could future chatbots could fundamentally change?
What might happen to communication among humans?
What might people who lack confidence start doing?
What might the chatbot amplify?
What might the chatbot spread?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What might people become emotionally dependent on?
a) family
b) each other
c) artificial intelligence voices
d) themselves
2) What is the new chatbot almost indistinguishable from?
a) human voices
b) the old one
c) supercomputers
d) the language Esperanto
3) What does the new chatbot interject conversation with?
a) erms, aahs and hmms
b) umms, aahs and hmms
c) umms, aahs and hymns
d) umms, aargghs and hmms
4) What can the new AI chatbot adjust to?
a) changes in mood
b) different time zones
c) temperature differences
d) being interrupted
5) What might AI reduce the need for?
a) electricity
b) English lessons
c) human interaction
d) books

6) What could future chatbots could fundamentally change?
a) computing
b) societies
c) language
d) English
7) What might happen to communication among humans?
a) It might be body language only.
b) It might degenerate.
c) It might become more sophisticated
d) It might be usurped.
8) What might people who lack confidence start doing?
a) public speaking
b) dating
c) debating
d) getting angry
9) What might the chatbot amplify?
a) speakers
b) societal biases
c) voices
d) white noise
10) What might the chatbot spread?
a) disinformation
b) lies
c) propaganda
d) fake news

Role play

Role A – Companionship
You think companionship is the biggest benefit of A.I. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their benefit isn't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least beneficial of these (and why): decision-making, customer service or medical diagnoses.

Role B – Decision-making
You think decision-making is the biggest benefit of A.I. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their benefit isn't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least beneficial of these (and why): companionship, customer service or medical diagnoses.

Role C – Customer Service
You think customer service is the biggest benefit of A.I. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their benefit isn't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least beneficial of these (and why): decision-making, companionship or medical diagnoses.

Role D – Medical Diagnoses
You think medical diagnoses is the biggest benefit of A.I. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their benefit isn't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least beneficial of these (and why): decision-making, customer service or companionship.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'A.I.'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'love'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• Share your findings with your partners.

• Make questions using the words you found.

• Ask your partner / group your questions.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

•Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

dependent

users

array

rely

lead

form

change

even

lack

gain

flip

aid

Student survey

Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

(Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

Discussion - A.I. Love

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

What did you think when you read the headline?
What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'AI'?
What do you think of artificial intelligence?
What do you know about ChatGPT?
What do you think of chatting with a computer?
When might chatting with AI be better than talking to a human?
Can AI lead to companionship and friendship?
What would you talk to a computer about?
What problems might reduced human interaction lead to?
What will AI be like in 20 years from now?

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
What do you think of when you hear the word 'love'?
What do you think about what you read?
How worried are you that AI will change society?
Will we one day talk to computers more than to humans?
How might AI change dating and love?
How possible is it to fall in love with an AI voice?
How might AI chatbots 'amplify societal biases'?
How might AI chatbots aid in the development of weapons?
What questions would you like to ask OpenAI?

Discussion — Write your own questions

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

(a) ________________

(b) ________________

(c) ________________

(d) ________________

(e) ________________

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

(f) ________________

(g) ________________

(h) ________________

(i) ________________

(j) ________________

Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

OpenAI, the company that owns ChatGPT, is worried that people may become (1) ____ dependent on artificial intelligence voices. The company released a new "advanced voice (2) ____" to users last week. The chatbot comes equipped with an array of lifelike voices that are almost indistinguishable (3) ____ human voices. They can have an authentic conversation (4) ____ real time, laugh at the right time, interject with "umms," "aahs" and "hmms," and they can adjust to being interrupted. An OpenAI report states that the newly-released, human-sounding voices may lead people to (5) ____ on AI for companionship, and even for romance and love. It cautioned: "Users might form social relationships with the AI, (6) ____ their need for human interaction."

The OpenAI report warns that future chatbots could fundamentally change (7) ____. They will reshape how we interact with family, friends and colleagues. They may even (8) ____ communication among humans. The report points to benefits of the new tool. These include bringing comfort and friendship to lonely people, and giving confidence to (9) ____ who lack self-confidence. The report says people may gain enough confidence to start dating in the real world. On the (10) ____ side, chatbots could cause people to be ruder, more impatient and more (11) ____. Wired.com writes that the new chatbot includes "the potential…to amplify societal biases, spread disinformation, and aid (12) ____ the development of chemical or biological weapons".

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) emotion (b) emotionally (c) emotional (d) emotive
(a) abode (b) mode (c) lode (d) ode
(a) at (b) for (c) of (d) from
(a) at (b) in (c) of (d) by
(a) relay (b) rely (c) really (d) rally
(a) reduction (b) redaction (c) reducing (d) reduce
(a) social (b) societal (c) societies (d) socialism
(a) slurp (b) splurge (c) usurp (d) usuary
(a) they (b) these (c) them (d) those
(a) flip (b) flap (c) flop (d) fop
(a) selfish (b) selfless (c) shellfish (d) selfishly
(a) of (b) at (c) in (d) by

Spelling

Paragraph 1

people may become emotionally enpedtdne
an aryar of lifelike voices
iblnguhtndiseiisa from human voices
ihttceaun conversation
ctjietrne with "umms," "aahs" and "hmms"
rely on AI for impnhnipaoocs

Paragraph 2

nftlyaeuamnld change societies
family, friends and cgellosaeu
They may even rupus communication
more ipaitenmt
the potential to amplify societal bsieas
chemical or oglbcolaii weapons

Put the text back together

(...) those who lack self-confidence. The report says people may gain enough confidence to start dating in the real
(...) dependent on artificial intelligence voices. The company released a new "advanced voice mode" to
(...) disinformation, and aid in the development of chemical or biological weapons".
(...) released, human-sounding voices may lead people to rely on AI for companionship, and even for romance
(...) to benefits of the new tool. These include bringing comfort and friendship to lonely people, and giving confidence to
(..1..) OpenAI, the company that owns ChatGPT, is worried that people may become emotionally
(...) and love. It cautioned: "Users might form social relationships with the AI, reducing their need for human interaction."
(...) The OpenAI report warns that future chatbots could fundamentally change societies. They will reshape how we
(...) users last week. The chatbot comes equipped with an array of lifelike voices that are almost indistinguishable
(...) interact with family, friends and colleagues. They may even usurp communication among humans. The report points
(...) "umms," "aahs" and "hmms," and they can adjust to being interrupted. An OpenAI report states that the newly-
(...) writes that the new chatbot includes "the potential…to amplify societal biases, spread
(...) world. On the flip side, chatbots could cause people to be ruder, more impatient and more selfish. Wired.com
(...) from human voices. They can have an authentic conversation in real time, laugh at the right time, interject with

Put the words in the right order

become people worried emotionally may It's dependent . that
company The advanced released voice mode . new a
lifelike equipped with array an It's of voices .
companionship . Lead rely AI people for on to
with form social relationships might Users the AI .
family . They interact we how reshape will with
communication may even They usurp among humans .
who to lack Giving confidence those self-confidence .
could be to The cause chatbots people ruder .
amplify biases . potential to societal include Chatbots the

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

OpenAI, the company that owns ChatGPT, is worried that people may become emotionally dependant / dependent on artificial intelligence voices. The company released anew / a new "advanced voice mode" to users last week. The chatbot comes equipping / equipped with an array / allay of lifelike voices that are almost distinguishable / indistinguishable from human voices. They can have an authentic conversation in real / really time, laugh at the right time, interject / interact with "umms," "aahs" and "hmms," and they can adjust to being interrupted. An OpenAI report states that the newly-released, human-sounding voices may lead people to relay / rely on AI for companionship, and ever / even for romance and love. It cautioned: "Users might form social relationships with the AI, reducing their need for human interaction / interjection."

The OpenAI report warns what / that future chatbots could fundamentally change societies. They will reshape how we interact with / at family, friends and colleagues. They may even slurp / usurp communication among humans. The report points to beneficial / benefits of the new tool. These include bringing comfort and friendship to lonely / lovely people, and giving confidence to those who lack self-confidence. The report says people may gain enough confidence to start date / dating in the real world. On the flip / flap side, chatbots could cause people to be ruder, more impatient and more selfish / selfless. Wired.com writes that the new chatbot includes "the potential…for / to amplify societal biases, spread disinformation, and aid in / at the development of chemical or biological weapons".

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

_p_n__, th_ c_mp_ny th_t _wns Ch_tGPT, _s w_rr__d th_t p__pl_ m_y b_c_m_ _m_t__n_lly d_p_nd_nt _n _rt_f_c__l _nt_ll_g_nc_ v__c_s. Th_ c_mp_ny r_l__s_d _ n_w "_dv_nc_d v__c_ m_d_" t_ _s_rs l_st w__k. Th_ ch_tb_t c_m_s _q__pp_d w_th _n _rr_y _f l_f_l_k_ v__c_s th_t _r_ _lm_st _nd_st_ng__sh_bl_ fr_m h_m_n v__c_s. Th_y c_n h_v_ _n __th_nt_c c_nv_rs_t__n _n r__l t_m_, l__gh _t th_ r_ght t_m_, _nt_rj_ct w_th "_mms," "__hs" _nd "hmms," _nd th_y c_n _dj_st t_ b__ng _nt_rr_pt_d. _n _p_n__ r_p_rt st_t_s th_t th_ n_wly-r_l__s_d, h_m_n-s__nd_ng v__c_s m_y l__d p__pl_ t_ r_ly _n __ f_r c_mp_n__nsh_p, _nd _v_n f_r r_m_nc_ _nd l_v_. _t c__t__n_d: "_s_rs m_ght f_rm s_c__l r_l_t__nsh_ps w_th th_ __, r_d_c_ng th__r n__d f_r h_m_n _nt_r_ct__n."

Th_ _p_n__ r_p_rt w_rns th_t f_t_r_ ch_tb_ts c__ld f_nd_m_nt_lly ch_ng_ s_c__t__s. Th_y w_ll r_sh_p_ h_w w_ _nt_r_ct w_th f_m_ly, fr__nds _nd c_ll__g__s. Th_y m_y _v_n _s_rp c_mm_n_c_t__n _m_ng h_m_ns. Th_ r_p_rt p__nts t_ b_n_f_ts _f th_ n_w t__l. Th_s_ _ncl_d_ br_ng_ng c_mf_rt _nd fr__ndsh_p t_ l_n_ly p__pl_, _nd g_v_ng c_nf_d_nc_ t_ th_s_ wh_ l_ck s_lf-c_nf_d_nc_. Th_ r_p_rt s_ys p__pl_ m_y g__n _n__gh c_nf_d_nc_ t_ st_rt d_t_ng _n th_ r__l w_rld. _n th_ fl_p s_d_, ch_tb_ts c__ld c__s_ p__pl_ t_ b_ r_d_r, m_r_ _mp_t__nt _nd m_r_ s_lf_sh. W_r_d.c_m wr_t_s th_t th_ n_w ch_tb_t _ncl_d_s "th_ p_t_nt__l…t_ _mpl_fy s_c__t_l b__s_s, spr__d d_s_nf_rm_t__n, _nd __d _n th_ d_v_l_pm_nt _f ch_m_c_l _r b__l_g_c_l w__p_ns".

Punctuate the text and add capitals

openai the company that owns chatgpt is worried that people may become emotionally dependent on artificial intelligence voices the company released a new advanced voice mode to users last week the chatbot comes equipped with an array of lifelike voices that are almost indistinguishable from human voices they can have an authentic conversation in real time laugh at the right time interject with umms aahs and hmms and they can adjust to being interrupted an openai report states that the newlyreleased humansounding voices may lead people to rely on ai for companionship and even for romance and love it cautioned users might form social relationships with the ai reducing their need for human interaction

the openai report warns that future chatbots could fundamentally change societies they will reshape how we interact with family friends and colleagues they may even usurp communication among humans the report points to benefits of the new tool these include bringing comfort and friendship to lonely people and giving confidence to those who lack selfconfidence the report says people may gain enough confidence to start dating in the real world on the flip side chatbots could cause people to be ruder more impatient and more selfish wiredcom writes that the new chatbot includes the potential to amplify societal biases spread disinformation and aid in the development of chemical or biological weapons

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

OpenAI,thecompanythatownsChatGPT,isworriedthatpeoplemaybec
omeemotionallydependentonartificialintelligencevoices.Thecompa
nyreleasedanew"advancedvoicemode"touserslastweek.Thechatbot
comesequippedwithanarrayoflifelikevoicesthatarealmostindistingui
shablefromhumanvoices.Theycanhaveanauthenticconversationinre
altime,laughattherighttime,interjectwith"umms,""aahs"and"hmms
,"andtheycanadjusttobeinginterrupted.AnOpenAIreportstatesthatt
henewly-released,human-soundingvoicesmayleadpeopletorelyonA
Iforcompanionship,andevenforromanceandlove.Itcautioned:"Users
mightformsocialrelationshipswiththeAI,reducingtheirneedforhuma
ninteraction."TheOpenAIreportwarnsthatfuturechatbotscouldfunda
mentallychangesocieties.Theywillreshapehowweinteractwithfamily
,friendsandcolleagues.Theymayevenusurpcommunicationamongh
umans.Thereportpointstobenefitsofthenewtool.Theseincludebringi
ngcomfortandfriendshiptolonelypeople,andgivingconfidencetothos
ewholackself-confidence.Thereportsayspeoplemaygainenoughcon
fidencetostartdatingintherealworld.Ontheflipside,chatbotscouldcau
sepeopletoberuder,moreimpatientandmoreselfish.Wired.comwrite
sthatthenewchatbotincludes"thepotential…toamplifysocietalbiases,
spreaddisinformation,andaidinthedevelopmentofchemicalorbiologi
calweapons".

Free writing

Write about emotional attachment to AI for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Falling in love with an AI chatbot is OK. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Homework

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. A.I.: Make a poster about A.I. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. HEALTH WARNING: Write a magazine article about putting mental health warnings on chatbots. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on A.I. love. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on A.I. love. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also...

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

News
Warm ups
Pre-reading / Post-reading
Using headlines
Working with words
While-reading / While-listening
Moving from text to speech
Post-reading / Post-listening
Discussions
Using opinions
Plans
Language
Using lists
Using quotes
Task-based activities
Role plays
Using the central characters in the article
Using themes from the news
Homework

Buy my book

$US 9.99

Answers

(Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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Breaking News English Lesson: A.I. Love

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