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...