Choose exam board for KS4 Computer Science (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 English
Choose exam board for KS4 French
Choose exam board for KS4 Geography
Choose exam board for KS4 German
Choose exam board for KS4 History
Choose tier for KS4 Maths
Choose exam board for KS4 Music
Choose exam board for KS4 Physical education (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 Religious education (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 Spanish

      What is artificial intelligence?

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can explain what artifical intelligence is and what it is not.

      Key learning points

      1. Artificial intelligence (AI) is made by humans.
      2. AI follows instructions to give answers.
      3. AI is not alive and does not think or feel.

      Keywords

      • Artificial intelligence (AI) - computer technology that gives answers by following instructions

      • Human - a person who can think, feel and understand

      • Instructions - clear steps that tell someone or something what to do

      Common misconception

      AI can think and feel like a human.

      AI follows instructions written by humans. It does not think, feel or understand.

      Teacher tip

      A key point in this lesson is that AI follows rules set by humans. Reinforce that AI gives answers but does not think, feel or understand.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

      Loading...

      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      4 Questions

      Q1.
      Which action is most likely to increase risk online?

      posting your favourite colour in a private message to your friend
      Correct answer: clicking a link from someone you do not know
      reading information on a school website
      sending homework to your teacher on the school platform

      Q2.
      An action is considered if it protects personal information and does not increase risk.

      Correct Answer: safe

      Q3.
      Sofia receives a message on a class app from someone she knows from school. The message asks for her home address. What should she do?

      share her home address because she knows the person
      Correct answer: ignore the request and tell a trusted adult
      share it because it was sent on a familiar app
      share it because the message was polite

      Q4.
      Why can downloading a file from an unknown website be unsafe?

      Correct answer: It might contain harmful content.
      It always works correctly.
      It is faster than other downloads.
      It makes your device stronger.

      4 Questions

      Q1.
      Artificial intelligence is a system that...

      follows fixed steps only
      Correct answer: compares patterns in data
      thinks like a human
      makes its own choices

      Q2.
      Which example follows fixed rules?

      Correct answer: calculator
      voice assistant
      predictive text
      face unlock

      Q3.
      AI tools follow written by humans.

      Correct Answer: instructions, rules

      Q4.
      Which statement is correct?

      AI tools think and feel like a human.
      AI tools understand meaning like a person.
      Correct answer: AI tools follow instructions and compare patterns.
      AI tools choose their own goals.

      To help you plan your 4 digital literacy lesson on: What is artificial intelligence?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...