AI The Magic Box: Strategies for Teaching How AI Works

As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes part of everyday conversation, it is important for everyone to understand fundamental elements of how AI works, so that it is not just a black box or a list of buzzwords. While a growing number of teaching resources are available for improving AI literacy, a paper-and-pencil approach to help readers understand the fundamental math and logic of an artificial neuron is much needed. We introduce AI The Magic Box, a fully illustrated activity book that explains key concepts of AI using engaging stories. The book is designed for middle schoolers and young adults who can do simple arithmetic (multiplication and addition in sequence) and algebraic formulation. The book walks readers through three steps of the AI process: Collect, Train, and Decide. The book provides strategies for helping readers discover the essence of classification algorithms through stories and hands-on activities.