Coding for Kids
In our digitally driven era, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has woven its way into the fabric of our daily lives, whether we realize it or not. AI is everywhere, from suggesting the next song in our playlist to aiding our cars in parking. Two of the most ubiquitous representations of this technological marvel are the voice assistants, Alexa and Siri, whom many of us converse with daily. The younger generation needs to be exposed to AI not only because they are the inheritors of this brave new world but also because understanding the essence of this technology can empower them with the knowledge to innovate further. Familiarizing children with AI demystifies the magic of “Talking with Technology” and equips them with the understanding to be at the forefront of the next wave of digital breakthroughs. As we delve deeper into the mechanics of how Alexa and Siri decipher our words, it underscores the importance of AI education for all children. Let’s unravel the science behind their technological prowess and explore why kids must be in the loop.
How Alexa and Siri Understand You: A Technical Dive
You’ve probably talked to Alexa or Siri and wondered how they know exactly what you’re saying. It’s not magic; it’s science and technology! Here’s how they do it.
Hearing the Sound: When you talk to Alexa or Siri, they “hear” you through a microphone. This microphone catches the sound of your voice and turns it into electrical signals that the computer can understand.
Converting Sound into Phonemes:
Your speech has tiny sounds called phonemes. For example, the word “cat” can be broken down into three phonemes: /k/, /æ/, and /t/. Alexa and Siri take these phonemes and start to decode what you said.
Putting Phonemes into Words: AI Algorithms
The AI algorithms take the phonemes and put them into words. This is where the real AI magic happens, and it’s done on big computers called servers, like Apple’s servers for Siri. The AI has been trained with millions of hours of spoken speech to do this job. It’s like taking dictation, but way faster and more accurate!
Understanding the Sentence: Machine Learning
Now that the words are understood, the AI must determine what the sentence means. Machine learning helps here, where the AI has been taught to understand language using many examples. It’s like learning from a giant textbook filled with all kinds of sentences and meanings.
Responding to You: Back to Your Device
Once the sentence is understood, a response is returned to your device, and Alexa or Siri speak to you. This step takes a fraction of a second, and it’s like conversing with a very knowledgeable friend.
Training Data: The Big Teacher
The AI needs to be taught to make all of this work, and that’s where training data comes in. Imagine a teacher with millions of hours of recordings of people speaking. That’s what the AI has learned from. It’s seen so many examples that it can understand almost how people say things.
What Makes AI Special?
The remarkable thing about AI, like Alexa and Siri, is how they combine many parts of science and technology. They hear, understand, and respond to speech just like humans do, but they do it using code, algorithms, and big servers filled with data. It’s not just about hearing; it’s about understanding and learning, just like you do in school.
Wrapping Up
Alexa and Siri aren’t magical; they result from years of learning, coding, and technology. They show us what’s possible when we put together sounds, words, and machines to create something that feels almost human. But remember, it’s all thanks to clever people who figured out how to make machines listen and learn!
Helpful AI Links for Your Child
Tynker’s AI courses open up a world of possibilities for students to explore the exciting realm of Artificial Intelligence through both block coding and JavaScript.
Tynker Toolbox: Walkthrough of The AI Blocks, FREE AI Block Coding Tutorial
Tynker’s Artificial Intelligence Course: JavaScript and AI
Info for Parents: Block Coding with AI
Info for Parents: JavaScript with AI
AI Courses for Schools: All K-8 Plans Come with Access to AI Coursework!
Check out Tynker’s Curriculum and learn more about inspiring the next generation to change the world through code.
