Just as we all need to learn how to read and write, it’s becoming increasingly important for everyone to have the skills and competencies required to use digital and AI technologies effectively.
AI has the potential to help people to build digital skills and confidence and make our lives easier. But, like lots of new technologies, it also has the potential to do harm if people are not supported to understand and use these technologies, if not used responsibly or ethically, if it is not developed with inclusion in mind, and if not used equally across the population. Supporting people to become ‘AI literate’ will help them critically use digital technology and AI in a way that enhances their quality of life and confidently make safe, informed decisions about AI applications in various contexts.
At Good Things, we are exploring the intersection between digital inclusion and AI literacy. First, we need to understand what AI literacy actually means and the intersection with digital literacy, media literacy and information literacy. Then, think and analyse how we can help people who may or may not have started to build their digital skills and confidence to understand how AI and other emerging technologies are already being used today, and how they could be used in future.
Currently, nearly 1 in 4 Australians do not have the essential digital skills or affordable access to digital devices they need to fully participate in today’s society. Women, people over 50, people with disability and refugees and migrants are more likely to be digitally excluded and to have problems accessing and understanding the digital world.
These inequities are particularly important to address when it comes to new and emerging tech like AI. For everyone in Australia to be digitally empowered and included, they need to feel confident that they can keep up with AI and are AI literate.
Stay tuned for more news and information on this topic as we explore the links between AI and digital literacy over the coming months.
Keep in the loop with news, grant announcements, events and updates in our Good Things newsletter and learn how to get involved in closing the digital divide.
