Online Class 25 July

Summary

In this online class, the instructor discusses the responsible use of generative AI, highlighting its history, current state, and ethical concerns such as author compensation and environmental impact. They address AI's limitations, particularly its bias towards English-speaking contexts, and the importance of human intervention to provide localized insights. Students are encouraged to utilize AI for language learning and to create outlines for assignments, while also being aware of AI's generalizations and the need for personal experience to enrich discussions.

Takeaways

• 📚 The instructor is attending a conference sponsored by Conan University and will present research for feedback, highlighting the importance of academic engagement.
• 🗓 The class schedule includes an online course this week and another in two weeks, with a reminder for students to meet on August 1st.
• ⏰ Students are advised to manage their time effectively, spending no more than one hour on lectures and exercises provided through the Learning Management System (LMS).
• 🎓 The assignment involves creating a first draft of a presentation, emphasizing the importance of demonstrating understanding of class concepts, signal phrases, verb forms, and rhetorical patterns.
• 📝 There is no need for a fancy video; the focus should be on content awareness and proper use of English language tools.
• 🔗 The LMS provides resources such as a worksheet and a platform for uploading files, with a suggestion to work during normal class time for structure.
• 💬 The instructor is available for questions and comments via email or Facebook, indicating a supportive and accessible teaching approach.
• 🤖 The lecture discusses generative AI, its history, and ethical considerations, including author compensation and environmental impact.
• 🌐 Generative AI's limitations are highlighted, particularly its bias towards English-speaking countries and the lack of personal experience in its responses.
• 📈 The controversy surrounding Taylor and Francis selling texts to Microsoft for AI training underscores the ongoing debate about data use and consent in AI development.
• 🚫 The potential for AI to facilitate cheating and misinformation is acknowledged, along with the need for responsible and ethical AI usage in academic and professional settings.
• 🌟 The opportunity for non-English speakers to contribute unique perspectives to AI is presented as a positive aspect of the current state of generative AI.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the online class mentioned in the transcript?

The main purpose of the online class is to provide an opportunity for the instructor to present their research, receive feedback, and guide students through the course material, including lectures and exercises.

What is the instructor's upcoming event at Conan University?

The instructor is attending a conference sponsored by Conan University, where they will present their research the following afternoon.

How long is the instructor's presentation expected to take?

The presentation should take no more than one hour, with an initial expectation of 30 minutes.

What is the assignment for the students during the online class?

The assignment involves listening to the lecture, completing an exercise using the links on the Learning Management System (LMS), and working on the first draft of their presentation.

What is the instructor's advice regarding the presentation's format?

The instructor advises that there is no need for a fancy video; the most important aspect is to demonstrate awareness of class concepts, including signal phrases, verb forms, and rhetorical patterns.

What is the controversy mentioned in the transcript about Taylor and Francis?

The controversy is that Taylor and Francis, a major academic publisher, sold all of its texts to Microsoft to be used in training a large language model (LLM), without informing or consulting the authors, raising ethical questions about compensation and consent.

What are some of the ethical concerns associated with generative AI?

Ethical concerns include compensation for authors whose work is used to train AI models, environmental impact due to data center energy consumption, potential for cheating in educational and professional settings, and the spread of fake news and images.

What is the bias issue with large language models mentioned in the transcript?

The bias issue is that large language models are predominantly trained on data from English-speaking countries, which can lead to limited understanding and inappropriate suggestions when dealing with non-English contexts or cultures.

How can generative AI be used responsibly in the context of the class?

Generative AI can be used responsibly by asking for advice on language use, requesting outlines for speeches or assignments, and critically analyzing the AI's responses for cultural and contextual relevance.

What is the instructor's suggestion for students to engage with generative AI?

The instructor suggests that students use a free version of generative AI like chat GPT to ask questions about language use and outlines for specific topics, and then analyze the responses in the context of their assignments.

How can students submit their questions and analysis to the instructor?

Students can submit their questions and analysis through a Google form provided on the LMS, where the instructor will review them and provide feedback.