The 4 As: Ask, Adapt, Author, Analyze: AI Literacy Framework for Families

Abstract

Families’ interactions with various forms of AI technologies have recently attracted significant attention. Since these technologies do not support developmentally adaptable and family-friendly interactions, we recognize an opportunity to create a framework that supports family AI literacy. Our novel framework is composed of four main dimensions (4As): ask, adapt, author, and analyze. We believe that in order to ensure algorithmic fairness, this framework can be used by families for developing a critical understanding of smart technologies embedded in their lives. We define our AI literacy dimensions building on prior work and through a series of co-design and AI learning sessions with families. Our current findings show how children perceive algorithmic bias differently from adults and how families engage in collaborative sensemaking by probing, tricking, and authoring AI applications in playful ways. We discuss the implications of AI literacy from the broader perspective of technology development, public policy, and algorithmic justice. We argue that AI literacy is a fundamental right for families and propose a series of learning activities and guidelines in order to support and protect this right.