The A.I. Roadmap: Human Learning in the Age of Smart Machines

Spencer, John. The A.I. Roadmap: Human Learning in the Age of Smart Machines. 2023. 322p. ISBN 9781734172645.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) promises to revolutionize how we educate people. The same promises have been made with the Internet, machine learning, and even older technologies such as the audiocassette and the film strip. This time, however, it may be true, but uncertainty and the rapid pace of changes means that the verdict of AI's impact on education remains unclear.

Recognizing that a prescriptive approach is neither feasible nor appropriate, The A.I. Roadmap suggests several paths educators can navigate as they experience this evolving landscape, steering away from the extremes of completely restricting AI (Lock It and Block It) and blindly embracing technological advancements (Techno-Futurism).

Instead, what is needed is a human-centered and tech-infused approach. The A.I. Roadmap explores how AI is transforming various aspects of education, such as creative thinking, information literacy, project-based learning, assessment, and personalized learning. It analyzes how AI is impacting each subject area and provides suggestions of best practices, recognizing that what exists today will be vastly different in a few months. Finally, it offers guidance on how educators can leverage AI tools while maintaining a focus on human values, critical thinking, and the development of essential human skills, elements that will continue to set us apart from the machines taking over multiple aspects of our society.

Gemina

Kaufman, Amie and Jay Kristoff. Gemina. Book 2 of the Illuminae Files. 2016. 659p. ISBN 978-0-553-49915-5. Available at FIC KAU on the library shelves.

Heimdall Station is in the middle of space, floating near nowhere. It does, however, provide access to a controlled jump gate which allows ships to travel tremendous distances. Civilization is but one jump away from the station, but for Hanna Donnelly, that’s not close enough. As the daughter of the station’s captain, Hanna misses the contacts and comradery that come from hanging out with other teens. Her only solace while on the station? Working out at the dojo. Her dad is big into strategy games, so she has had plenty of time to master these. In love with Jackson, a security officer on board the station, Hanna is not above scoring some dust, her drug of choice, from Niklas Malikov, a lowlife member of the notorious House of Knives, a criminal cartel. Unknown to them, their lives are about to change dramatically.

From the Kerenza system, a ship called Hypatia is on its way, with Kady Grant and several hundred colonists, who survived and escaped the BeiTech assault on their illegal settlement and the ensuing pursuit by several warships. As it neared Heimdall Station, Hypatia began transmitting news of their ordeal. Unfortunately, a BeiTech agent infiltrated deep in the station’s command structure has intercepted all of Hypatia’s messages, and contacted BeiTech for backup. A fleet of drone ships is heading straight for the station and the wormhole, to destroy Hypatia and the remaining witnesses to BeiTech’s crimes. At the same time, twenty-four Beitech agents with orders to kill everyone aboard Heimdall and destroy the station, are boarding Heimdall.

Confronted by hostile and deadly agents, alien predators (Niklas’ family has to manufacture the drug somewhere!), and a rip in the space-time continuum, Hanna and Niklas are Kady and the Kerenza survivors’ only hope. Can they work together long enough to make it off the station?

Illuminae

Kaufman, Amie and Jay Kristoff. Illuminae. Book 1 of the Illuminae Files. 2015. 599p. ISBN  978-0-553-49911-7. Available at FIC KAU on the library shelves.

The world ends today. Literally. Kady is breaking up with Ezra over their plans post graduation. She wants to leave this rock of a planet on the far corner of the galaxy, and he wishes to stay here. He’s got his reasons, but he won’t tell her what those are. But as if breaking up wasn’t hard enough, the planet is invaded by Beitech troops ready to kill the illegal settlers of this mining colony. Beitech fighters roar overhead and drop bombs while ground soldiers fire on civilians. Ezra and Kady manage to escape the planet and are brought about a United Terrean Alliance fleet, consisting of a battle cruiser, the Alexander, a science vessel, the Hypatia,  and a cargo ship, the Copernicus. Several thousands colonists are rescued. Unfortunately, the colony was bombed with a prototype biogenetic weapon, and many of the colonists are infected.

The evacuation of Kerenza proceeded while the Alexander was busy defending the fleet from four Beitech warships. The Alexander suffered significant damage, and its artificial intelligence, Aidan, is damaged and is making erratic decisions. With the ship unable to jump in hyperspace, the entire fleet must travel to Heimdall space station where a permanent jumpgate awaits. Unfortunately, one of the Beitech warships, the Lincoln, survived and is in pursuit.

At the end of the day, two people who did not want to talk to each other are now together on a spaceship being chased. With the death of military personnel in the battle colonists are conscripted in the military, and Ezra is sent to the Alexander to become a pilot. Though a great computer hacker, Kady is judged to be too volatile and remains on the Hypatia. But as the plague spreads throughout the fleet, as the Lincoln slowly catches up, and as Aidan’s health and processing deteriorates, the prognostic for survival is low. Kady hacks into the computer grid and realizes that the fleet’s chances to successfully reach Heimdall are dwindling, and that military command is not being honest with the troops. With the situation worsening and Aidan making autonomous deadly decisions, Kady has no choice but to reconnect with Ezra in an attempt to salvage what’s left of the Kerenza colonists. Can she forget Ezra long enough to help save the fleet?

The story continues in Gemina.