British Sign Language Glossaries of Curriculum Terms

BSL AI Glossary - AI Literacy definition

Translation: AI literacy means understanding what AI is, how it works, and how to use it safely and wisely in your everyday life. You use AI every day — e.g. TikTok recommends videos you'll like, Snapchat filters track your face (e.g. rabbit or cat), AI map finds the fastest route. AI literacy means you UNDERSTAND what's happening behind the screen — not just clicking without thinking.

• To understand AI: What is AI? How does it learn? Where does it come from?
• To question AI: Can I trust this? Is this information accurate? Who made this AI and why?
• To stay safe: Know what AI can get wrong. Know your data is being collected and used.
• To be in control: Use AI as a tool to help you. Don't let it make decisions FOR you without thinking.

For comparison, reading literacy means being able to read and write; media literacy means understanding what you watch and read. AI literacy means understanding the technology shaping your world. AI literacy doesn’t mean that you need to be a coder or a tech expert. You don’t have to understand every detail of how AI is built. It means being informed, aware and confident around AI in daily life.