The questions and topics concerning AI in everyday life that were developed together with the Citizen Scientists in the first project phase formed the core content of the entire project. Based on the Citizen Scientists’ everyday lives and experiences, important personal questions, concerns and wishes regarding AI were collected. For example, between workshops, the Citizen Scientists observed themselves and their environment specifically in relation to AI and reflected on how to deal with this technology. During further meetings, the collected questions were then narrowed down into subject areas using various methods, such as World Cafés or Octopus Clustering. Three core topics emerged from the around 100 questions and formed the basis for further content-related work and development.

What is AI?

This subject area encompasses general knowledge on AI and the term “Artificial Intelligence”. It concerns questions on how to explain AI as well as what one should know about AI.

Key questions are:

• What distinguishes us humans from AI?
• What would be a more intuitively understandable name for AI and other technical terms?
• What can’t AI do?

How do I recognize AI in everyday life?

This subject area covers questions on how to recognize AI as such. It was summarized through the question: “Who are you and what do you do?”

Key questions are:

• Where are we already in contact with AI in our everyday lives?
• Which features help recognize AI?
• Why is it important to know whether we are dealing with an AI?

How can we address ethical issues surrounding AI?

This subject area includes ethical topics related to AI. More specifically, it concerns responsibility, regulation and control.

Key questions are:

• Who decides what AI is allowed do?
• When is AI “good” and when is it “bad”?
• What are the risks associated with the development and usage of AI?
• Who is responsible for the ramifications of AI?
• Will everyone be able to benefit from AI?