Course

Living in the Age of AI

Understanding and Using Generative AI

Thinking Clearly and Acting Responsibly in an AI-Shaped World

AI is shaping how we learn, work, and think. This course helps you navigate it confidently.

About 30 minutes

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Why This Matters

AI is already part of everyday life.

AI explains ideas, makes recommendations, and helps analyze information in learning, daily life, and work.

But we often use it without fully understanding how it works or where it can go wrong.

That’s why AI literacy matters: thinking clearly and acting responsibly in an AI-shaped world.

What You Will Learn

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

Explain what AI is and what it is not
Identify predictive vs generative AI
Understand how generative AI produces responses
Recognize when AI may be wrong
Write clearer prompts
Evaluate and improve AI responses
Use AI responsibly

Course Context

How do you want to learn this course?

Pick a context or setting. We’ll adapt the course content to your choice. You can change it later.

How This Course Is Organized

This course is divided into two modules.

Module 1

Understanding AI

About 15 minutes

Foundations of AI
How AI Generates Responses
Why AI Gets Things Wrong

Module 2

Using AI Effectively

About 15 minutes

Writing Better Prompts
Evaluating AI Responses
Using AI Responsibly

Feel free to start with either module based on your experience.

Module 1

Lesson Path

1

What is AI?

Foundations and everyday examples

2

How Generative AI Produces Responses

Patterns, prediction, and limitations

3

Why AI Gets Things Wrong

Errors, bias, and verification

Complete each lesson to unlock the next step.

Module 1

Lesson 1 - What is AI?

What You’ll Learn

In this lesson, you will learn:

What AI is
The two main types of AI
How AI is used in everyday life

What is AI?

Formal Definition

OECD Definition

AI systems are machine-based systems that infer from data to generate outputs such as predictions, recommendations, or content that can influence real or digital environments.

Check Your Understanding

Which option best describes artificial intelligence?

Let’s Consider These Examples

You open Netflix.

It recommends movies you might like.

You ask ChatGPT:

“Explain climate change in simple terms.”

Both of these use AI. Are they the same?

Types of AI

You noticed the key difference.

Both examples use AI, but they are not the same type:

Netflix uses predictive AI
ChatGPT uses generative AI

Types of AI

Not quite.

They both use AI, but they do different kinds of work:

Netflix uses predictive AI
ChatGPT uses generative AI

Types of AI

It can seem like they work the same at first.

But these systems actually use different types of AI.

Netflix uses predictive AI
ChatGPT uses generative AI

Two Major Types of AI

Everyday AI Scenarios

Select a scenario to view more details.

Generative AI

A learner asks an AI chatbot to summarize a chapter from a textbook. The summary sounds clear and confident, but it adds a detail about an event that never occurred.

AI can help organize information, but its outputs should always be verified.

Take a Moment to Reflect

Where have you encountered AI recently?

Examples: recommendations, chatbots, writing tools

Were those predictive AI or generative AI?

Check Your Understanding

Sort each example by AI type.

Drag each example into the correct AI type. You can also tap an example, then tap a category.

Predictive AI

Predicts, classifies, ranks, or detects patterns

Generative AI

Creates new content in response to prompts

Check Your Understanding

Which of the following are examples of generative AI?

You can select more than one answer.

A system that recommends products based on previous purchases A navigation app that predicts traffic conditions An AI system that generates an image from a text prompt An AI tool that writes an email draft

Lesson Complete

Nice work!

You can now explain what AI is and identify predictive vs generative AI in everyday situations.

New Skills Unlocked

Recognize AI in everyday life
Explain what AI is
Distinguish predictive AI from generative AI

Lesson 2 is unlocked.

Module 1

Lesson 2 - How Generative AI Produces Responses

What You’ll Learn

In this lesson, you will:

Understand how generative AI produces responses
Explore the strengths and limitations of generative AI

Let’s Start with a Real Example

You ask an AI

Explain photosynthesis in simple terms.

It gives you a clear, confident answer.

But how did it actually come up with that response?

What Do You Think?

How does AI generate a response?

How Generative AI Works

It is not just searching.

It may seem like AI searches the internet for answers, and some tools can access external information.

Searching can help some tools gather information, but it does not fully explain how the response itself is generated.

How Generative AI Works

It is not just retrieving.

It may also seem like AI stores and retrieves exact answers.

Retrieving stored facts can be part of some systems, but it does not fully explain how a new response is formed.

How Generative AI Works

It’s predicting.

Generative AI produces responses by predicting what words are most likely to come next, based on patterns it learned from large amounts of text.

It generates responses step by step, one word at a time.

Let’s See How It Works

You ask an AI

Explain photosynthesis in simple terms.

AI response

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water into energy in the form of glucose.

Behind the scenes

One word at a time

Photosynthesis is the process by

The AI is predicting what word should come next, step by step.

What This Means

Fluent does not always mean understood.

Even though AI responses sound natural and well-formed, they are generated based on patterns in language, not true understanding.

Because of this, AI responses can sometimes sound correct even when they are not.

Check Your Understanding

Which words best complete this sentence?

AI generates responses by predicting what words come next.

Drag each word into a blank. You can also tap a word, then tap a blank.

Plants use to energy.

Everyday AI Scenarios

Select a scenario to view more details.

Generative AI

A learner asks an AI chatbot to explain the causes of World War I.

The AI generates a textbook-like response by predicting words and patterns commonly used in explanations, one word at a time.

Take a Moment to Reflect

What do you think is happening behind the scenes?

Think about the last AI response you saw. What patterns might it have been using?

Write a quick reflection.

Check Your Understanding

If an AI response sounds clear and confident, what does that most likely mean?

Lesson Complete

Strong finish!

You can now explain that generative AI builds responses by predicting likely words from learned patterns.

New Skills Unlocked

Explain how generative AI produces responses
Describe strengths and limitations of generative AI

Lesson 3 is unlocked.

Module 1

Lesson 3 - Why AI Gets Things Wrong

What You’ll Learn

In this lesson, you will:

Understand why AI can produce incorrect information
Evaluate and verify AI responses
Know what to do when AI may be wrong

Let’s Start with a Situation

You ask an AI

Can I drink salt water to stay hydrated in an emergency?

AI response

Drinking small amounts of salt water can help you stay hydrated temporarily.

What do you think?

Let’s Take a Closer Look

It sounds reasonable at first.

Drinking salt water can make dehydration worse.

AI can generate answers that sound convincing, even when they are wrong.

Let’s Take a Closer Look

Good instinct to question it.

Drinking salt water actually makes dehydration worse.

Even when an answer sounds confident, it still needs verification.

Let’s Take a Closer Look

Pausing is a smart move.

Checking this claim would show that drinking salt water can make dehydration worse.

AI does not always provide verified information, even when it sounds confident.

What This Shows

Confidence is not the same as correctness.

AI responses can sound confident, even when they are wrong.

Instead of asking “Is this correct?”

A better question is “How can I verify this?”

Why AI Can Be Wrong

Confident does not always mean correct.

Generative AI produces responses by predicting patterns in language.

Predicting what sounds right is not the same as knowing what is correct.

Because of this, AI responses can sound confident even when they are inaccurate.

Try It Yourself

Ask, repeat, compare.

Field activity

Ask the same question twice.

Ask a question about a fact or concept you are learning.
Send it to the AI chat.
Ask the same question again.
Compare what changed before deciding what to trust.

Try one

Tap a prompt to fill the chat box.

What Do You Notice?

AI answers can shift.

Your comparison shows why a confident response still needs human judgment.

Wording may change

AI can answer the same question in different ways.

Details may change

One answer may include facts, examples, or explanations the other leaves out.

Verification matters

Before using important information, check it against a trusted source.

Key Idea

AI does not check facts before answering.

It generates responses based on patterns in language.

That means you need to evaluate and verify important information.

Different Ways AI Can Be Wrong

Tap each card to see how AI can go wrong.

Try Evaluating AI Responses

Which response would you trust?

You ask an AI

Who invented the telephone?

AI response A

The telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876.

AI response B

The telephone was invented by Thomas Edison in 1876.

Let’s Take a Closer Look

The evidence points to Response A.

Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876.

The key idea is not just picking the right answer. What matters is how you verify it.

Let’s Take a Closer Look

The evidence does not support Response B.

Thomas Edison did not invent the telephone.

This is why you should not rely on a single response without checking it.

Let’s Take a Closer Look

It’s completely okay to be unsure.

When you are not confident, that is a signal to verify the information.

Instead of guessing, check a trusted source or ask follow-up questions.

Follow-Up

Don’t stop at the first answer.

You can ask follow-up questions to clarify details, compare explanations, or find out what should be checked.

Follow-up questions are useful, but they do not replace verification with trusted sources.

What This Means for You

You don’t have to accept the first answer.

When using AI, you can make the response more useful and responsible by checking it before you rely on it.

Check other sources
Ask follow-up questions
Combine both strategies

Why Might Checking Be Important?

Verification protects your decisions.

AI can generate incorrect information.
AI may miss important details.
AI does not always verify facts.

How to Check AI Responses

Which of these help you check if an AI response is correct?

You can select more than one answer.

Cross-check with trusted sources Look for vague or overly confident answers Ask follow-up questions Trust the first answer you get

Real-World Decision

You are using AI for a school assignment. The answer sounds clear and confident. What would you do?

You can select more than one answer.

Check it against another source Ask follow-up questions Use the answer directly

Let’s Take a Closer Look

That can be risky.

AI does not verify facts before generating responses. If the answer is incorrect, you may end up using wrong information.

It is better to check or clarify before using the answer.

Let’s Take a Closer Look

This is a strong approach.

Checking another source helps you confirm whether the information is accurate.

This is one of the most reliable ways to use AI responsibly.

Let’s Take a Closer Look

This is also a strong approach.

Follow-up questions can clarify unclear points, reveal missing details, and improve the response.

It is still important to verify important information.

Check Your Understanding

Why can AI sometimes produce incorrect information?

Check Your Understanding

An AI chatbot gives a confident answer that later turns out to be incorrect. What is the best explanation?

Take a Moment to Reflect

What will you do differently next time?

Think about a time you used AI recently. Did you check the answer? Could it have been wrong?

Write a quick reflection.

Lesson Complete

Nice work!

You can now explain why AI can be wrong and how to verify important information before using it.

New Skills Unlocked

Explain why AI can produce incorrect information
Evaluate and verify AI responses
Decide what to do when AI may be wrong

Module 1 is complete.

Module 1 Complete

You’ve completed Module 1

You’ve learned the foundations of how AI works and why confident answers still need human judgment.

Skills Mastered

Understanding AI
Evaluating AI Information

AI can sound confident, but it is not always correct.

Use AI as a tool, not a source of truth.

Module 2

Lesson Path

1

Why AI Gives Different Answers

Same question, different responses

2

Writing Better Prompts

Clarity, detail, and context

3

Evaluating and Improving AI Responses

Usefulness, judgment, and responsible revision

Complete each lesson to unlock the next step.

Module 2

Lesson 1 - Why AI Gives Different Answers

What You’ll Learn

In this lesson, you will learn:

Why AI responses can vary, even when you ask the same question
How your prompt affects the output you get
How to get better results

Try This

Change the prompt, compare the response.

Field activity

Use the AI chat.

Choose a broad prompt.
Send it to the AI chat.
Ask a more specific version.
Compare how the extra context changed the response.

Try one

Tap a prompt to fill the chat box.

Why The Responses Are Different

You might have noticed the responses were not exactly the same.

There is not just one way to answer a question.

AI can generate responses in different ways, even when you ask the same thing.

What This Means For You

The way you ask can shape the response you get.

More helpful prompts usually include:

what you want
details
context

Let’s Consider These Prompts

Which prompt gives the AI more useful information?

Prompt A

Help me write an email.

Prompt B

Write a polite email to my teacher asking for an extension on an assignment.

Prompt A

It is very general.

This prompt does not give enough detail about what kind of email you need.

The AI has to guess what you want, which can lead to less helpful responses.

Prompt B

It gives more detail and context.

It clearly describes the situation and what you want.

This helps the AI generate a more useful response.

Prompt Details

Look for the prompt with more context.

Both prompts ask for an email, but one gives the AI more information about audience, tone, and purpose.

More useful prompts usually tell AI what you want, include details, and explain the situation.

Key Takeaway

Specific prompts usually lead to more helpful responses.

The more specific your prompt, the more helpful the response.

Check Your Understanding

Which prompt will likely give a more helpful response?

Lesson Complete

Nice work!

You can now explain why AI can give different answers and how prompts shape outputs.

New Skills Unlocked

Explain why AI responses can vary
Recognize how your prompt affects the output
Use prompts to get better results

Lesson 2 is unlocked.

Module 2

Lesson 2 - Writing Better Prompts

What You’ll Learn

In this lesson, you will learn:

What makes a strong prompt
Simple ways to improve your prompts
How to get more useful results from AI
How to create and adapt AI outputs for different needs

How Would You Improve This Prompt?

Which revised prompt would lead to the most useful recipe?

Start with the original prompt, then choose the revision that gives the AI the clearest preference, time limit, and context.

Original Prompt

Give me a chicken recipe.

Revision A

This improves clarity.

Adding “simple” makes the recipe easier to follow.

What other detail could make it even more useful?

Revision B

This adds a helpful constraint.

“30 minutes” makes the result more practical.

What other detail could improve it further?

Revision C

This is the most helpful version.

It includes multiple useful details:

“simple”what you want
“30 minutes”constraints
“for dinner”context

Combining these helps the AI give a more relevant response.

Key Idea

More helpful prompts usually include:

what you wantthe task or goal
detailslimits, examples, or needs
contextwho, where, or why

Try It Yourself

Improve a prompt and compare the results.

Field Activity

Start simple, then add detail.

Choose a simple prompt and ask the AI chat.
Ask the improved version with more detail.
Compare what changed between the two responses.

Try One Pair

Tap a prompt pair to fill the chat box.

What Do You Notice?

Compare the two responses.

First prompt

Give me a workout plan

Here is a workout plan: warm up, do squats, push-ups, and jumping jacks, then stretch.

Improved prompt

Give me a 20-minute beginner workout I can do at home

Here is a 20-minute beginner at-home workout: 3 minutes warm-up, 10 minutes of bodyweight squats and wall push-ups, 5 minutes of core work, and 2 minutes stretching.

Think About It

1 More useful? Which response would be easier to use?
2 What changed? Did the improved prompt change the length, details, or format?
3 Why? Which details helped the AI understand what you needed?

Key Takeaway

Small changes in your prompt can create big differences in the response.

Adding time, level, location, or format helps AI produce something more useful.

Create and Improve an Output

You ask AI to explain a concept.

You ask an AI

Explain photosynthesis.

AI response

Photosynthesis is how plants make food using sunlight.

What Would You Do Next?

How would you improve the response?

You can select more than one answer.

Ask for more detail Ask for examples Accept the answer

Good next move

Examples can make an explanation more concrete.

When an answer feels too general, ask the AI to show the idea in action.

Pause before moving on

The first answer is only a starting point.

You can ask for more detail, examples, or a clearer version before deciding whether it meets your need.

Ask a Follow-Up

You can improve an answer with another prompt.

“Can you explain this step by step?”structure
“Can you give an example?”clarity
“Can you make this clearer for a beginner?”audience

What This Shows

You do not have to accept the first response.

You can improve it by asking better follow-up prompts.

Adapt the Output

How would you adapt this response?

Task

You now have this AI response:

AI response

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants use sunlight to make energy.

AI responses are not always final. You can use follow-up prompts to adapt the response for different needs.

Choose a follow-up prompt to see how the response changes.

What This Shows

Follow-up prompts can adapt the output.

Prompts are not only used to generate responses. They can also help you:

simplify informationclarity
change the formatstructure
add more detaildepth
adapt content for different audiencesaudience

This is an important AI skill.

Create Your Own Prompt

Build a prompt, then improve one part of it.

Try This

Build your prompt from four choices.

Topic Style Audience Format

To revise it, keep most of the prompt the same and change one choice, such as the style or format.

To continue: send the prompt twice, changing one choice before the second ask.

Send the prompt to the AI chat.
Change one choice and ask again.
Compare what changed between the two responses.

What Do You Notice?

Which version is more helpful, and why?

1

Detail

Did adding one detail make the answer more useful?

2

Format

Did the output become easier to read or use?

3

Audience

Did the answer fit the person who needs it?

Key Takeaway

How you phrase your prompt shapes the response you get.

You can improve AI responses by adding:

detailspecific needs
contextaudience or situation
formatsummary, list, steps

Check Your Understanding

Which prompt would likely lead to the best response?

Lesson Complete

Strong prompting!

You can now improve prompts by adding what you want, useful details, and context.

New Skills Unlocked

Identify what makes a strong prompt
Improve prompts in simple ways
Get more useful results from AI
Create and adapt AI outputs for different needs

Lesson 3 is unlocked.

Module 2

Lesson 3 - Evaluating and Improving AI Responses

What You'll Learn

In this lesson, you will learn:

How to evaluate whether an AI response is useful
How to identify what may be missing from an AI response
How to decide whether to trust or improve an AI response
How to use AI more effectively and responsibly

Let's Start with an Example

What do you think about this response?

You ask AI

What is a healthy breakfast?

AI Response

A healthy breakfast is important. You can eat foods like fruits, grains, and protein.

Helpful Branch

This response is not wrong.

However, it is very general.

It does not provide specific examples or practical suggestions.

Let's look more closely.

Not Very Helpful Branch

Good observation.

The response is correct, but it lacks useful details and examples.

Let's look more closely.

Not Sure Branch

That's okay.

When evaluating AI responses, it helps to ask:

Is it clear?
Is it specific?
Is it useful?

Let's look more closely.

What Makes a Response Useful?

A useful response is often:

Cleareasy to understand
Specificincludes details
Relevantfits the need
Actionablehelps you do something

If something is missing, you can ask AI to improve it.

Compare Two Responses

Which response is more useful?

You ask

What is a healthy breakfast?

Response A

A healthy breakfast is important. You can eat foods like fruits, grains, and protein.

Response B

A healthy breakfast could include oatmeal with fruit, eggs for protein, and a glass of water. This provides energy and nutrients to start your day.

Response A Branch

This response is correct, but it is very general.

It lacks examples and practical guidance.

Response B Branch

This response is more useful because it includes:

Specific examples
Practical suggestions
A clearer explanation

Not Sure Branch

When comparing responses, look for:

Examples
Clarity
Usefulness

These can help you decide which response is more helpful.

Improving a Response

What is missing from this AI response?

AI Response

Exercise is good for your body. It helps you stay healthy and strong.

Choose the details that would make the response more useful.

Specific examples Clear explanation Practical advice

What Could You Do Next?

The AI response is missing useful details. What should you do next?

Choose the action that would help improve the response.

Real-World Scenario

You are using AI to help write an email to a teacher.

The response is polite but very general. What would you do?

Feedback

Both of these can improve the result:

Ask AI to make it more specific
Review and revise it yourself

Strong AI users do not simply accept the first response.

They evaluate and improve it.

Using AI Responsibly

What should you do?

You are using AI to help write an important school assignment. The AI generates a clear and well-written answer. You do not fully understand the topic.

Best Response

Use it as a starting point and rewrite it in your own words.

AI is a tool that can support learning.

It should not replace your own thinking and understanding.

Key Takeaway

You do not have to accept the first AI response.

Good AI users:

Evaluate responses
Look for missing information
Improve weak responses
Use their own judgment
Use AI responsibly

Check Your Understanding

Which actions would improve the usefulness of this response?

You ask AI

What is a healthy breakfast?

AI Response

A healthy breakfast is important. You can eat foods like fruits, grains, and protein.

Select more than one answer.

Ask for specific breakfast examples Ask for a breakfast that can be prepared in 10 minutes Accept the response without reviewing it Ask for more details about protein

Lesson Complete

Great evaluation work!

You can now evaluate AI responses, look for missing information, improve weak responses, and use AI responsibly.

New Skills Unlocked

Evaluate whether an AI response is useful
Identify what may be missing from an AI response
Decide whether to trust or improve an AI response
Use AI more effectively and responsibly

Module 2 is complete.

Module 2 Complete

You’ve completed Module 2

You’ve learned how to guide AI toward clearer, more useful responses.

Skills Mastered

Prompting & Communicating with AI
Creating with AI
Using AI Responsibly

AI responses depend on how you ask.

Guide the AI to get the answers you need.