💻 TechnologyLevel 1Lesson 24
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Discuss Why Humans Should Always Guide Machines

Lesson preview: the Mini Lesson and Vocabulary are open to everyone. Guided practice, exercises, the parent checklist and the printable PDF worksheet come with full access (free 7-day trial or membership).

What you will learn

  • 1Explain why humans must always guide machines
  • 2Sort actions into what is a human's job and what is a machine's job
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Mini Lesson

Machines are very good at following instructions — but they cannot think for themselves, feel emotions, or decide what is right. That is why humans must always be the guides.

What only humans can do

  • Decide whether using a machine is a good idea in the first place.
  • Check that the machine is working safely and not hurting anyone.
  • Example: A self-driving car follows its program — but a human decided where to go, checked it was safe, and can always press stop.
  • Say stop if something goes wrong.

What machines are built to do

  • Carry out the exact instructions a human gave them.
  • Do the same task again and again, quickly and without getting tired.
  • Remember and sort through lots of information.

Why this matters

  • Machines do not have feelings — they cannot tell if they are doing something kind or unkind.
  • Without human guidance, a machine could keep making the same mistake over and over.
  • Humans bring care, judgment, and values that machines will never have.

Words to know

Guide

To lead or show the way

e.g. Humans guide machines to make sure they are safe.

Decision

A choice you make after thinking

e.g. Only a human can make a kind decision.

Judgment

Deciding what is right or best

e.g. Good judgment comes from a person, not a machine.

Safety

Being free from harm

e.g. A human checks the robot for safety.

Values

The ideas about what is right and important

e.g. Kindness and fairness are values machines do not have.

Human guiding a machineA person stands above a robot on a raised platform. The person holds a clipboard with a checklist. An arrow points from the person down to the robot labeled gives instructions. A red stop button is shown in the person's other hand. Below the robot is the word carries out the task.STOPgives instructionscarries out the task
A human with a checklist and a stop button guides a robot below — the human gives instructions and can always say stop.
Human's job versus machine's jobTwo columns. Left column labeled Human's job in blue lists: decide the goal, check for safety, say stop if needed, and make kind choices. Right column labeled Machine's job in green lists: follow instructions, do the task fast, remember lots of data, and repeat without tiring.Human's job• Decide the goal• Check for safety• Say stop if needed• Make kind choices• Fix mistakes• Care about othersMachine's job• Follow instructions• Do the task fast• Rememberlots of data• Repeatwithout tiring• Work veryaccurately• Work with numbers
Two columns showing what belongs to the human's job (goal-setting, safety, kindness) and the machine's job (following instructions, speed, memory).
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Ask yourself: "Can the machine decide this on its own, or does a human need to step in?"

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