The History of AI [Big Ed]

Teacher notes

This is the second session in The Big AI Project Pilot. Today we will revisit San Francisco and learn about the history of AI. The content in this lesson has been designed in partnership between Lyfta and The Big AI Project teacher team. **Learning objectives** To explore key moments that shaped AI, from early codebreakers to today’s smart technology To read and reflect on a brief history of AI, connecting ideas to everyday life and future possibilities To build core vocabulary including data, machine learning and neural network **Questions & activities** Explore - Revisit San Francisco: use the Lyfta globe to return to the server room; spot clues it was AI‑generated. Discuss - Reflecting on the reading: daily‑life examples; meaning of the bank‑note quote; connections to AI. Check‑in - Star ratings: nervous → inspired scale (⭐ to ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐). Sort - AI timeline: put historical events in chronological order (Turing, chess, driverless cars, Alexa, ChatGPT, Google, etc.). Discuss - AI for good: what positive things might AI do next? Reflection - Final thoughts: thumbs up/curious/down; how do you feel about AI now?