How do you learn about artificial intelligence? Unless you’re in school, it might come from news headlines, social media videos, or your own conversations with chatbots.
A team at the University of Wisconsin decided that people around Wisconsin needed something more reliable. So they created a series of short videos explaining what AI is and how to use it.
All seven videos add up to just 15 minutes. These are basically crash courses in how AI is different from what we’ve seen before.
“Software you’re familiar with: calculators, email apps, spreadsheets…it follows the instructions,” the narrator says in the first video. “When you tell it what to do, it does it every time. AI does something different. AI generates. That one change, from finding something to producing something, changes everything.”
Read more about Katherine Kokal’s discussion with AI integration specialist Emily Laird.
Laird shares simple tips for identifying artificial intelligence and how to protect yourself from scams.
Easy-to-understand video on AI: AI makes mistakes
Emily Laird is an AI integration specialist at UW-Stout who worked on the free video series.
“We didn’t want the course to be jargon-heavy. We didn’t want it to be for people who didn’t need knowledge of artificial intelligence,” she says. “So it seemed most natural to start with what AI actually does and what AI is.”
From there, the video provides examples of how people view AI and tips on how to get better answers when using chatbots.
“AI is not the same as a search engine. Instead, think of it like a conversation,” the narrator says. “The better you communicate, the more responsive you will be.”
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Laird said the videos are designed for everyone from students who use AI all the time to older Wisconsinites who want to try out new technology. But it would be a mistake to think that AI isn’t already all around us, she says.
“One of the misconceptions is that people will say, ‘Well, I don’t use AI,’ when the reality is that many of the applications, devices, software, and tools you use have AI built in and integrated with it every day, or have been working with AI for over a decade,” she says.
Importantly for Laird and his team, the video series also explains how AI can make mistakes. An example is shown below.
“You find a mushroom, take a picture of it, ask the AI if it’s safe to eat, and the AI says yes. But it’s wrong. Some mistakes are inconvenient, and some decisions are too important to leave to the AI, no matter how confident it may seem.” “Consult a professional when a mistake could cause legal problems or seriously affect your health or future.”
University of Wisconsin’s AI video doesn’t address environmental issues or other concerns about the technology
Not everyone is actively engaged in using AI on a regular basis due to concerns about its impact on the environment and population.
According to a 2025 study conducted by the Institute for the Environment and Energy, data centers powered by AI can consume up to 5 million gallons per day. This is equivalent to the water usage of a town from Pewaukee to Wauwatosa with a population of 10,000 to 50,000 people.
There are also ethical concerns. Students and teachers from elementary school to graduate school say they worry about plagiarism and loss of critical thinking when using AI to read, write, and brainstorm.
Asked if the videos faced concerns about AI, Laird said, “We didn’t go too deep into the limitations of that area, and we wanted to make sure we were increasing literacy.”
“We recognize and understand their impact on sustainability. There are definitely ethical issues with a lot of this technology. But this technology will continue to be developed. If you look at the investments around the world, this technology will continue to grow. [computing] “From data centers to chip development. So it’s our responsibility as the University of Wisconsin to make sure that all people in Wisconsin have basic AI literacy as they use these tools.”
She added that those who don’t learn how to use technology responsibly could end up unprepared for the future.
“This technology is here now. It’s not going anywhere,” she says. “It will continue to grow and expand and become integrated into everything we do.”
The free video series is available online at the UW website.
Do you have questions about education or how schools work in our area? Submit them here to WUWM Education Reporter Katherine Kokal.
