By Simone C. O. Conceição
Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly shaping how we live, work, and learn. Yet for many adult educators and learners, AI remains an abstract or intimidating concept—often viewed as complex, technical, or only relevant to data scientists and tech professionals. In reality, AI is already embedded in the tools and platforms we use every day, and understanding its fundamental principles is now crucial for effective digital participation.
This post offers an accessible introduction to AI, examines its relevance to adult education, and outlines key steps for developing AI literacy. Readers are also encouraged to continue the conversation in the AI Literacy Forum, moderated by Dr. Simone Conceição and Dr. Lilian Hill.
What Is Artificial Intelligence?
Artificial intelligence refers to computer systems that perform tasks typically requiring human intelligence, such as recognizing speech, analyzing data, or making decisions. A significant branch of AI is machine learning, where systems improve their performance by learning from data over time.
One recent development in this space is generative AI, which can produce original content such as text, images, or audio. Tools like ChatGPT, DALL·E, and others are designed to respond to user prompts with information, summaries, visuals, and more.
Why AI Literacy Matters in Adult Education
For adult learners and educators alike, AI literacy is becoming as fundamental as traditional digital literacy. As Wolff et al. (2016) emphasize, literacy in a data-driven society requires not only technical proficiency but also critical awareness of how technologies shape access to knowledge, decision-making, and power.
Long and Magerko (2020) further define AI literacy as a multidimensional framework involving conceptual understanding, applied skills, and ethical reflection. In educational settings, this means helping learners not just use AI tools but understand how they function, question how they are built, and consider their broader social impacts.
In the context of adult education, AI literacy can help:
- Empower learners to use AI tools for writing, research, and communication
- Enable educators to adopt AI for personalized instruction, feedback, and course design
- Support workforce readiness as AI becomes embedded across industries
- Foster ethical reflection on privacy, data usage, and algorithmic bias
Rather than replacing human educators, AI can serve as a tool to augment teaching and support differentiated instruction.
Key Concepts and Terms
Understanding the following terms provides a foundation for AI literacy:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI): The ability of machines to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence
- Machine Learning (ML): A process where machines improve performance through data analysis
- Generative AI: AI that creates new content, such as writing, images, or audio
- Algorithm: A set of rules or calculations used by AI to make decisions
- Bias in AI: Systematic errors in output due to biased data or design flaws
Critically engaging with these terms allows adult learners to move from passive users of AI to informed participants in a data-driven society.
Steps Toward Building AI Literacy
Becoming AI-literate doesn't mean becoming an AI expert. It means developing the ability to understand, question, and use AI tools thoughtfully. Here are a few ways to start:
- Explore AI in action: Try tools like ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot in a learning or teaching activity
- Encourage discussion: Create space in classrooms or programs for critical conversations about ethics and AI
- Integrate AI literacy: Include AI-related concepts in digital literacy, workforce development, and lifelong learning curricula
- Engage in community learning: Participate in spaces like the AI Literacy Forum to exchange ideas and stay informed
Connect with the Community
The Adult Learning Exchange Virtual Community offers a collaborative space for exploring these topics in greater depth. In the AI Literacy Forum, moderated by Drs. Simone Conceição and Lilian Hill, professionals from diverse sectors, discuss how AI is influencing adult learning, share practical strategies, and examine critical concerns such as equity, bias, and data ethics.
We invite you to join the conversation, share your insights, and help shape the understanding and application of AI literacy in adult education.
References
Long, D., & Magerko, B. (2020). What is AI literacy? Proceedings of the 2020 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1145/3313831.3376727
Wolff, A., Gooch, D., Montaner, J. J. C., Rashid, U., & Kortuem, G. (2016). Creating an understanding of data literacy for a data-driven society. The Journal of Community Informatics, 12(3). https://doi.org/10.15353/joci.v12i3.3275
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