There is a LOT of video and writing about AI, but not all of it is worth your time or attention. While many of us are not going to learn to code and participate in the creation of AI, we can all be AI-literate.

A key part of AI-literacy is having a broad understanding of the technologies and critically approaching new information concerning AI.

The ROBOT Evaluation Criteria

When you watch videos or read articles about AI, consider the following—

Reliability

• How reliable is this information about the AI technology?
• If it’s not produced by the party responsible for the AI, what are the author’s credentials? Bias?
• If it is produced by the party responsible for the AI, how much information are they making available? 
  • Is information only partially available due to trade secrets?
  • How biased is they information that they produce?

Objective

• What is the goal or objective of the use of AI?
• What is the goal of sharing information about it?
  • To inform?
  • To convince?
  • To find financial support?

Bias

• What could create bias in the AI technology?
• Are there ethical issues associated with this?
• Are bias or ethical issues acknowledged?
  • By the source of information?
  • By the party responsible for the AI?
  • By its users?

Owner

• Who is the owner or developer of the AI technology?
• Who is responsible for it?
  • Is it a private company?
  • The government?
  • A think tank or research group?
• Who has access to it?
• Who can use it?

Type

• Which subtype of AI is being discussed?
• Is the technology theoretical or applied?
• What kind of information system does it rely on?
• Does it rely on human intervention? 

Hervieux, S. & Wheatley, A. (2020). The ROBOT test [Evaluation tool].