Part 1 - Introduction

The more I watch these videos, the more I realize how much AI is all around us.  From self-driving cars, to snapchat filters to Siri and Alexa.   Daily, I use Siri to make phone calls or find directions.  Alexa is my go to when I am looking for background music at home.   I have witnessed a teammate use ChatGpt to create an activity for our zoo field trip to keep the kids busy.  I have also been impressed to see how teachers are using google translate with our ELLs. This tool has absolutely helped these kids feel comfortable at a time when life is so scary for them. In all these cases , it is making our lives easier in some way.

• Where is AI being used around the house and work?

AI is being used everywhere.  AI is utilized in cars, Chatbots and Conversational AI: Used for customer service, and support, helping businesses improve customer experience and a reduction of costs, the use of Siri and Alexa in the home, Smart homes, and google translate just to name a few.

       * Describe an example of when you used/witnessed someone else use AI?  (Alexa, Siri, etc)
I have used Alexa at home, Siri on my phone for a long time now.  I just started to utilize chatGPT, and Magic School for idea generators to assist with lesson plans, letters of recommendation, project ideas, and differentiated instruction.

• How, if at all, has this impacted your life?

Ai has impacted our lives by making things more efficient, and saving time. AI has been beneficial with generating ideas for lesson plans, differentiating instruction, and saving time with talk to text, or stating requests. Overall, AI's positive impact continues to grow as it transforms industries and enhances our daily lives with more efficient, personalized, and innovative solutions.

1. Where is AI being used... AI is widespread; it's everywhere! Self-driving cars, Siri or Alexa, text to speech, Google Translate, TV and movie recommendations (Netflix, Prime, Disney Plus), music recommendations (Amazon, Spotify, Pandora), and social media platforms and filters... the list goes on and on. 

2. I have seen my son use Siri and Alexa when looking up TV shows, movies, and music. A friend of ours showed us the self-driving feature of his Tesla in a school parking lot. I have mentioned already how I have used chatGPT when creating different vacation itineraries, training regiments, and vocabulary lists for US History. Along with seeing how my other colleagues might use AI and chatGPT technology to best suit their course, etc.

3. As previously stated, I have recently used chatGPT to create a list of 100 key terms and their definitions that are commonly used on the NYS Regents Exam for US History and Government. That list, along with another list of terms, Supreme Court Cases, etc. have been added to my Schoology course page for Regents review. It has also helped me to generate ideas and solutions for lessons, rubrics, vocabulary terms, itineraries (for family vacations), training regiments, etc. It has been a big time saver and idea generator!

AI is being used with self driving cars, siri & alexa, google translate, snapchat filters, etc.  Generative AI can be like your own personal teaching assistant where you can access lots of information in just seconds.

At home, we use Alexa all the time to play music, tell us the weather, tell us the score of a sports game, set timers, etc.  Sometimes we have to refine our language to get Alexa to do the correct thing.  Just like you would need to do in the classroom.  Sometimes in math class we ask students to come up with their own word problems, I think it would be neat to have students then ask Alexa or Siri their problem and see if they would need to refine any of their language.

Using AI has made our lives a little simpler and it's a time saver.  If I put something in the oven and my hands are dirty, I can ask Alexa to set a timer for the food in the oven, while I wash my hands.   Again, I see a connection with AI and teaching.  We can use it to ask create tasks and then revise what is given to us- which is again a huge time saver.

Just about everywhere we turn! AI does simple tasks for us like provide movie and music recs, create shopping lists, turn lights on and off for us, keep our thermostats at a comfortable temp. or answer questions or translate information to help us communicate. AI is also behind self driving cars as well as managing our appliances. The list goes on and on. 

I have used basic tools in my home and at work such as Siri, Alexa and movie platforms. I haven't explored Chatgpt until today. I was blown away by its ability and am grateful you can put controls on it when it you feel the need. There was a learning curve to get used to the fact that Alexa is always listening, so I'm sure it's just the same way with Chapgpt etc. We as educators have to embrace AI and prepare our students to use it because it's here to stay!

AI is being used around the house when we use Alexa and Siri.  Whether we are in our kitchen or the living room we are able to use Alexa to help us with some tasks.  We use Alexa frequently for timers, to turn on lights, change the colors of lights, for the outside temperature or weather forecast , to play music and for the definition of words. The list doesn't stop here.  Siri is used to help send texts, call people or provide information.  These devices can very helpful especially when we are cooking. Sometimes Alexa may not hear what we say the first time and provide inaccurate information and we need to ask the question again.  Sometimes this can get frustrating.  Sometimes I feel Alexa "hears" too much because there have been many times after I have a conversation with someone adds will appear on my ipad or phone based on the conversation.  It makes me wonder who else is listening to my conversations? Hmmm....

Where is AI being used around the house and work?
AI is being used with Alexa, Siri, Filters within social media, self-driving cars, and ChatGPT. 

Describe an example of when you used/witnessed someone else use AI?  (Alexa, Siri, etc)
Last year is when I started diving into ChatGPT. I think the first reaction one would get is that this is a way to cheat through life. After really thinking about it, I think ChatGPT can enhance one's life tremendously. Copying something verbatim from ChatGPT can turn a mind into mush after a while. However, using the content of ChatGPT as a foundation, or a starting point, in the work you need to formulate can actually enhance cognition. It all comes down to how one chooses to use this tool. As a teacher, I think it'll be our responsibility to teach students on how to use AI technology. Don't ignore it. 


How, if at all, has this impacted your life?
To be honest, I don't think it has impacted my life yet. However, this new technology is about to rock our world. I am prepared for what is to come in even the next couple of years. I truly think the responsibilities of educators are going to change as it has never changed before. I thought the content I learned in High School back in 2000 was irrelevant. Hopefully, AI is the push we need to finally transform education. I find it exciting! 

No matter where you go, AI is all over. Using it in the house is quite amazing and helpful. From setting timers on the Alexa, or asking her to search information for you when you are debating between a family member. Yes this is how I use AI with Alexa, haha. The list can go on with the snapchat app and chat GPT. There are cars now using AI. Since it should be hands free in the car, you can ask Siri to find a location on your map and take you there. Again, super smart and useful. I find these all to be for good. Now does it make us lazy, well thats for another question of evidence-LOL.

Oh man.....where to begin!? AI has become increasingly integrated into both household and workplace settings. At home I use virtual assistants like Alexa help with tasks ranging from setting reminders, notifying me when my dishwasher are finished, creating a virtual map of my floor so my robot vacuum can do its thing, to communicating with my kids throughout the house as an intercom. I also use AI to help new music!
In the workplace, I use AI in searches, such as predictive google search terms or automating a processes like a spreadsheet. Personally, I often use Siri on my iPhone to set reminders, send messages, or find information quickly. It's convenient to have a virtual assistant always ready to work! In fact, I've come to LOVE AI because I believe it allows me to just do MORE!  Since I'm able to farm out some tasks to AI, I have more energy to put toward something else! Overall, the integration of AI into daily routines has certainly impacted my life positively, saving time and providing helpful assistance!

 Where is AI being used around the house and work?I use Google everyday and the predictive text is a form of AI. Siri is something myself and the rest of my family uses. I have seen my family use these on almost a daily basis. I think I am the only one in my family and friend circle to use ChatGPT and that is because it has been brought up at our Tech Tuesdays with Paul at the High School. I like the potential uses!

 How, if at all, has this impacted your life?As a teacher, that is just starting to creep into the work aspect. I can make lesson plans, or have it write a rubric. I have not explored that too much, but I will have it generate an equation and the students will solve it, or have it write a word problem for me.Personally, as I stated I think it is a time saver, and it lets me ask quick questions or give commands for listening to music or requesting the weather.