Technology, Skills, Dignity.

In This Lesson You Will:

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

• Understand the benefits, risks, and responsibilities of using Artificial Intelligence (AI).

• Use generative AI tools responsibly during your project.

• Identify ethical challenges such as bias, misinformation, and privacy concerns.

• Develop your own Responsible AI Use Plan for your innovation project.

What Are Generative AI Tools?

Generative AI tools are systems that can create content such as:

• Text

• Images

• Code

• Videos

• Presentations

• Designs

They generate new content based on patterns learned from large amounts of data.

Examples include chatbots and AI design tools.

These tools have improved rapidly in recent years and are now widely available — many with free versions suitable for students.

Yes. In this course, you are allowed to use generative AI tools to assist with your project.

However:

• You must understand what the AI produces.

• You must be transparent about how you used it.

• You must not present AI-generated work as fully your own without understanding it.

• You must document which tools you used in your Learning Journey.

Just like you would credit a teammate or a website, you must explain how AI supported your work.

How Do Chatbots Work?

Chatbots such as ChatGPT or Gemini work like conversations.

Unlike search engines that give you website links, chatbots:

• Respond directly in text.

• Answer your questions in a conversational way.

• Allow you to refine your question for better results.

The more specific you are, the better the response.

For example:

Instead of saying:
“Give me app ideas.”

Say:
“Suggest 5 mobile app ideas to help reduce plastic waste in secondary schools in Uganda. The target users are students aged 14–18. Present the ideas in a table format.”

Clear instructions produce better results.

Navigating the Risks of AI

AI is powerful, but it must be used carefully.

Here are important risks you must understand:

1️⃣ AI Can Make Things Up (Hallucinations)

AI does not “know” facts like humans do.

It predicts words based on patterns.

Sometimes it generates false information confidently.

What to do:

• Always verify important information.

• Cross-check with trusted sources such as textbooks, research articles, or official websites.

• Never base your project on unverified AI content.

2️⃣ AI Can Be Biased

AI learns from internet data.

The internet sometimes contains unfair, incomplete, or biased information.

This can result in:

• Gender bias

• Cultural bias

• Regional bias

• Socio-economic bias

What to do:

• Test your app with diverse users.

• Ensure fairness and inclusion.

• Be mindful of how your solution affects different groups.

3️⃣ Privacy and Security

AI tools often collect user input.

If you enter personal data:

• It may be stored.

• It may be processed externally.

What to do:

• Avoid sharing personal information.

• Avoid uploading sensitive data.

• Design your app to protect user data.

• Follow basic data protection principles.

4️⃣ Avoid Plagiarism

Plagiarism means presenting someone else’s ideas or work as your own.

Even if AI generates text or code:

• You must understand it.

• You must edit and improve it.

• You must credit the tool if required.

If your app uses AI features, you must understand how they work.

AI should support your creativity — not replace it.

Strategies to Use AI Responsibly

Think of AI as a thinking assistant.

It is not your brain.

It is not your replacement.

It is your support tool.

The 3 Golden Rules of Prompt Writing

1️⃣ Be Specific

Clearly describe:

• What you want.

• Who the audience is.

• The format you need.

• The context (e.g., Uganda, secondary schools).

2️⃣ Iterate and Refine

If the answer is not good enough:

• Add more detail.

• Ask it to improve.

• Change the perspective.

• Request examples.

Innovation requires back-and-forth thinking.

3️⃣ Define the Output

Ask for:

• A list

• A table

• A paragraph

• Code

• A comparison chart

You control the structure.

Where You Can Use AI in Your Project

🔹 IDEATION (Brainstorming)

AI can help you:

• Generate problem ideas.

• Suggest solution approaches.

• Summarize research.

• Compare existing solutions.

• Expand your innovation thinking.

Use it to spark ideas — not replace your thinking.

🔹 DESIGN

AI can assist with:

• UI wireframes

• Color palettes

• Logo ideas

• Slide designs

• Mockups

Remember:
Free versions often have limitations.

🔹 VIDEO CREATION

AI can help with:

• Captioning

• Editing

• Script drafting

• Visual suggestions

But your story must include:

• Real team members.

• Real community context.

• Real impact.

AI cannot replace authenticity.

🔹 CODING

AI tools can:

• Suggest code snippets.

• Help debug errors.

• Explain how code works.

• Generate examples.

Important:
Never copy code blindly.

Always ask:
“Explain how this works.”

Understanding builds confidence.

Responsible AI Use Plan (Activity)

Estimated Time: 20 minutes

Each team must create a Responsible AI Use Plan.

Your plan should answer:

1. Which AI tools will we use?

2. What tasks will AI assist with?

3. How will we verify information?

4. How will we avoid bias?

5. How will we protect privacy?

6. How will we document our AI use?

This plan will be included in your Learning Journey documentation.

Key Message

You do NOT have to use AI.

But if you do:

• Use it wisely.

• Use it ethically.

• Use it responsibly.

• Use it creatively.

AI is a tool.

You are the innovator.