Randi Williams
Research Assistant at MIT Media Lab's Personal Robots Group
Cambridge, MA, USA / Black/African American
👩 she/her/hers
🎓 PhD Candidate in Al Education & Education & Training
😁 Randi loves the flying feeling through the air on rollerskates or a skateboard.
Randi empowers students to be conscientious consumers + ethical engineers of Al.
ABOUT HER WORK
Randi Williams uses emerging technologies like AI and robotics to advance human well-being. Her pioneering work includes projects like PopBots, where she designs social robots to teach preschool children about programming intelligent robots. Randi collaborates closely with educators to empower students, particularly those from marginalized communities, to harness AI for positive societal change. Drawing from her expertise in Human-Computer Interaction and AI, Randi is dedicated to ensuring equal access to AI education. Her advocacy efforts center on promoting diversity and inclusion, particularly for women and historically marginalized groups within the tech industry, driven by her passion for technology's potential to enhance lives.
WATCH & DISCUSS
Watch: LEGO and MIT Partner on Ethics in AI: AI + Ethics Curricula in K-8th Grade Classrooms
Discuss:
How do grade school students become AI literate?
Do a K-W-L about what students know about computer science.
Brainstorm the technology that students use daily.
How do students use “Intelligent Toys” like Alexa?
What are the pros of having an intelligent toy like Alexa?
What are the cons of having an intelligent toy like Alexa?
Discuss the importance of ethical Al use, including privacy, bias, and being a responsible Al user.
Teaching Al to Preschoolers with Randi Williams
What do preschoolers know about AI?
Are machines smarter than you?
Can it be your friend?
Does it have feelings?
OTHER RESOURCES
VIDEO/RECORDING
Who is Randi Williams: A Collection of Randi’s Videos
Harvard CRSS Talk (slides)
Podcasts
ARTICLES
EXTENSION ACTIVITIES
Learn more about Randi’s Work
Ethical lessons for students?
What are some ways technology has been used for good?
What are things you can’t live without (phones, TVs)?
How have these items positively impacted your lives?
Staying connected with others
Medical health conditions and staying informed
What are some negative connotations of using technology?
May damage hearing if the sound is turned up
Can be addictive
Can be used to spy on people
Teaching Al to Preschoolers with Randi Williams
What do preschoolers know about AI?
Are machines smarter than you?
Can it be your friend?
Does it have feelings?
ADVICE TO YOUNGER SELF
Randi first learned computer science in High School. High school (grades 9-12, ages 14-18)
“I would tell younger me that one day I would grow up to be a leader in CS and that I would get there by being true to myself. I had no idea about research or a Ph.D. when I was young, but I love it as a career because I get to be creative and inventive every day. Age 8”
HOW HAS RANDI’S WORK CONTRIBUTED TO OR HARNESSED COMPUTER SCIENCE'S GOOD, NEUTRAL, AND NEGATIVE IMPACTS?
Ethical or Moral Impacts of Computing: “In my work, I explore many ethical dilemmas in all branches of AI. Some of the most pertinent to my work are algorithmic bias, overreliance on technology, and privacy concerns. Working with diverse users, it's important that technologies are accessible and serve everyone equally well. It is also important to recognize that people tend to overly trust or depend on technologies they perceive as competent or friendly. It's important to manage the relationship that people form with robots and for them to recognize the limitations of technology. Finally, many of the robots I use have cameras and microphones that can collect more information than users may want technology to know about them.”
Good: Randi's efforts provide hands-on experiences in machine learning, robotics, and autonomous cars to thousands of students worldwide, fostering innovation and encouraging societal improvements through technology.
Neutral: AI education research is a long-term endeavor that balances long-term vision and immediate needs, benefiting educators, students, and schools today while also planning for the future.
Negative: Disparate access to technology is a significant negative impact of computing in education, as many technologies designed for under-resourced groups overlook procurement, training, and maintenance costs, hindering equitable access and requiring careful consideration and community collaboration to address.