SUMMARY
Top tech executives met with President Trump on Tuesday to discuss the future of artificial intelligence amid growing concerns over AI models losing control. Researchers and lawmakers are calling for stronger safeguards, but Trump said the technology is transforming the economy and that the U.S. cannot afford to lose its lead over China. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Gary Marcus.
View the transcript of the story.
NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What do you want to learn more about? You can also make a Google doc copy of these general discussion questions.
News alternative: Check our recent segments from the News Hour and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. See the Google doc above for discussion questions.
WARM-UP QUESTIONS
- Who met with President Trump recently to discuss AI regulation?
- Why does Trump say he doesn't support government regulation of AI companies or models?
- How are some warnings about AI threats misguided, according to Gary Marcus?
- What are the risks of allowing AI companies to self-regulate, according to Marcus?
- When should the U.S. establish independent evaluators of AI tech, according to Marcus
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
- Do you think it's more important to speed the development of AI to stay ahead of China and other competitors, or do you think creating guardrails against the most risky features of AI is more important? Why so?
- Who do you think is in the best position to establish guidelines for AI development and use?
Media literacy: Why do you think Gary Marcus was chosen as the expert for this segment? What is his background, and what perspective do you think he adds?
WHAT STUDENTS CAN DO
Watch this video of PBS news anchors interviewing former Anthropic employee, Jacob Coxon.
After watching the video, answer these questions:
- How do you feel after this interview?
- Did you learn anything new? Did you already know or expect certain ideas or themes?
- Are there any questions you would have liked to ask Jacob? If so, what?
Sign up to receive our weekly newsletter with Daily News Lessons and community events.
To provide feedback on News Hour Classroom's resources, including this lesson, click here.
