AI: Help or Hinderance?

Primary SchoolAdvancedDiscursive Writing

The Prompt

Imagine a world where computers are super clever, almost like they can think! This is Artificial Intelligence, or AI. It's not just in sci-fi movies anymore; it's already in our homes (like smart speakers that answer questions) and in the apps we use.

Your task is to explore both sides of AI: Is it mostly a superhero, making our lives better and easier, or could it sometimes be a sneaky villain, causing problems?

Think about how AI could be a help. For example, could it assist doctors in finding cures for illnesses faster, or make learning at school even more exciting by creating personalised games? What about helping us with chores or making transport safer?

But also consider how AI might be a hinderance (a problem). Could robots take away jobs from people? What if AI makes mistakes, or becomes too powerful? Could it be a bit scary if computers knew too much about us?

Your writing should discuss both the amazing possibilities and the potential worries. Share your thoughts and give reasons for your ideas. What do you think about AI – is it more of a help or a hinderance in our future?

💡 Writing Tips

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Start by thinking about what AI you already use or know (like smart speakers or game characters).
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Brainstorm two lists: 'Good things AI could do' (e.g., help doctors find cures, make learning fun) and 'Worries about AI' (e.g., robots doing all the jobs, making wrong decisions).
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Write a paragraph about the good things and another paragraph about the worries.
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Try to use words like 'however', 'on the other hand', or 'but' to show both sides of the argument.
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Finish with a sentence that sums up your thoughts – is AI mostly helpful or mostly a problem?

📝 Sample Answer

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is popping up everywhere, from the smart speakers in our kitchens to the clever characters in video games. It’s like having really smart computer brains helping us out. For me, AI could be a huge help in many ways. Imagine robots that could clean up all the litter in our towns, or special computer programs that help doctors figure out what’s wrong with someone much quicker. It could even make learning at school more fun, with apps that adapt to how you learn best, helping you get really good at tricky subjects. However, AI also has some things that make me a bit worried. What if super-smart robots started doing all the jobs that people usually do, like driving buses or building houses? Then lots of people might not have work. Also, even clever computers can make mistakes. What if an AI controlling traffic lights got it wrong, or if a medical AI gave the wrong advice? It’s important to think about these problems too. So, while AI definitely has the power to make our lives easier and better, we need to be careful and make sure it’s used wisely so it doesn’t cause more trouble than it solves.

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