Artificial Intelligence and Communication

One of the goals of this course is to expand how we define what public speaking is today. It is unlikely that many of us will go on to give the kinds of speeches that we often think of as what public speaking is about. We all, however, will be speaking and communicating our thoughts and ideas not only face-to-face but across mediums.

Technological advances play an essential role in advancing how we communicate. In the days of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, those who weren’t present read the words in the paper. Winston Churchill and Franklin Delano Roosevelt were known for their radio addresses. Television fundamentally changed the expectations of political debate and campaigning. The internet further revolutionized and democratized some of the forums available for public discourse. As the digital world developed further, reliance on algorithms for content delivery has shaped how we experience public communication.

Learning to navigate the digital world of public engagement is now vital to effective public speaking. Technology can be intimidating (including our class website, I know!). Still, to participate in the society evolving around us, we must continue to develop our skills and knowledge of communication technologies. Just as we learn to structure and research a speech, you are asked to consider and practice with the mediums we deliver and listen to public discourse.

We are in a rapidly changing landscape with the rise of expanding uses for “artificial intelligence.” More specifically, the last two years have included an explosion of generative AI in language and images.

Below are various videos and articles with views on the rise of AI and its capabilities. As you go through them, consider how you may have used generative AI LLMs like ChatGPT or Gemini or the built-in tools being pushed by Meta (Facebook), Microsoft, and other companies.

1. Ethics of Artificial Intelligence Recommendations. Unesco. November 2021. *Please read through the overview page and the points it covers; you don’t need to go any deeper into the report.
2. Bearne, Suzanne. “New AI Systems Collide with Copyright Law.” BBC. July 23, 2023.
3. Thorbecke, Catherine. “AI tools make things up a lot, and that’s a huge problem.” CNN. August 29, 2023.
4. Coleman, Jude. “AI’s Climate Impact Goes beyond Its Emissions.” Scientific American. December 7, 2023.
5. Horvath, Jared Cooney. “3 Critical Problems Gen AI Poses for Learning.” Harvard Business Publishing Education. August 6, 2024.
6. O’Brien, Isabel. “Data center emissions probably 662% higher than big tech claims.” The Guardian. September 15, 2024.
7. Halper, Evan. “Microsoft deal would reopen Three Mile Island nuclear plant to power AI.” Washington Post. September 20, 2024.

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