Want the latest news from NPR? Need directions to get to a friend’s place? Want to find out how cold it is outside for your morning run? Ask a bot!

Have you ever wondered how Siri, Alexa and Google Home work? Experiment with the potential and peril of AI assistants! In this hands-on activity, you will build experiences, datasets and rules for your own AI assistant, all while considering the implications on different users and society.

These technologies can perform a lot of convenient functions and are becoming increasingly accessible, but how are they shaping our understanding and knowledge of the world? Build your own bot to find out.

How to use:

• Download and review the facilitation guide.

• Explore the Build a Bot Cards. These are cards that can be printed on 8.5x11 sheets of paper. We recommend card-stock quality, but you can use regular paper as well.

• Review the Power and Positionality Guide.

• Select one of the three activities and get started!

This resource is most effectively used:

• By educators that have already engaged in some training and courageous conversations about equity, identity, and privilege. 

• In accompaniment with other resources for continuous learning aimed at elucidating unconscious and conscious biases, and with consistent reflective practice, such as journaling.

Share what you make with us on our Twitter @k12lab!