Artificial Intelligence: Thinking Machines and Smart Robots with Science Activities for Kids

Build it Yourself

by Angie Smibert, Alexis Cornell (Illustrator)

What is artificial intelligence? How is artificial intelligence going to change our lives?

"Alexa, play my favorite song! Alexa, shut the garage door!" Imagine a world in which you simply call out a request while sitting in your living room and have a small computer comply. Suddenly, the driving beat of your favorite song fills the air while in the distance you hear the grind of the garage door coming down.

This scenario is no longer science fiction! Our world is becoming increasingly inhabited by machines that can talk to us, listen to us, perform as asked, and even solve problems with no direction from humans. A machine with artificial intelligence is one that can perceive its environment and change its computing and behavior to reflect that environment, while using tools at hand to solve problems or reach goals.

In Artificial Intelligence: Thinking Machines and Smart Robots with Science Activities for Kids, readers ages 9 to 12 learn the early definitions of AI and discover how these definitions, and the tests that are applied to determine whether a machine has AI or not, have changed as machines have grown increasingly competent in unexpected ways. Through a combination of science activities and student-paced learning, readers discover the AI machines of today and their uses in various fields, such as entertainment, the military, and health care.

What about the future? How will AI affect the way we understand and integrate with technology and with each other? How can AI improve our lives? Is there anything dangerous about AI? What are the ethical issues surrounding the use of AI? Essential questions such as these promote critical examination of issues from all sides, while primary sources and science-minded engineering activities, such as experimenting with the programs Sound Net and iNaturalist and making a model of a neural network, let readers have a blast learning about the age of thinking machines we're in right now.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published August 3, 2018

About the author

I was born in Blacksburg, a once sleepy college town in the mountains of Southwest Virginia. I grew up thinking I wanted to be a veterinarian; organic chemistry had other ideas. But I always had stories in my head. Eventually, after a few degrees and few cool jobs—including a 10-year stint at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center—I wrote some of those stories down.

I'm the author of several young adult novels, including MEMENTO NORA, THE FORGETTING CURVE, and THE MEME PLAGUE. I’ve also published many short stories, for both adults and teens.

You can also catch me blogging as part of the LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY WRITERS (leaguewriters.blogspot.com).

www.mementonora.com
www.angiesmibert.com

Reviews

[Lorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Young scientists in middle school interested in delving more deeply into the topic of artificial intelligence will find this guide both interesting and informational. It goes beyond offering basic information by examining both the science and the cultural history of how humans have created computers and machines that use data to make predictions. It consistently offers opportunities for children to explore topics covered by referring them to other online and book resources with tricks like QR codes for easy exploration. There are also activities included in each chapter that can easily be done and enhance learning the information provided in the text. The introductory materials include an index and a timeline of artificial intelligence illustrated by real photographs. Other book extras include an index, glossary, essential questions for each chapter, metric conversion tables, detailed resources for more information and the web locations of the QR codes offered in the text. I would recommend this book for purchase to any middle school or public library.

This book was provided by the publisher for professional review by SWON Libraries.