Smart Machines Around Us
A warm early-years intro to smart machines: what they are, where to spot them at home, and how grown-ups stay in charge of them.
Key takeaways
- A smart machine can do helpful jobs, like answering or reminding
- We see smart machines at home, in cars and in shops
- Smart machines follow people; people stay in charge
- Smart machines can be wrong, so we check what they say
What is a smart machine?
A smart machine is a machine that can do helpful jobs.
Some machines just turn on and off, like a lamp. A smart machine can do more. It can listen, answer, or remind you.
Say "What is the weather?" to a voice helper. It hears you. Then it answers. That is a smart machine.
Where do we see them?
Smart machines are all around us. Look and you will spot them!
- A voice helper that plays a song when you ask.
- A tablet that shows you a new game.
- A car that beeps when it is too close to a wall.
- A shop till that scans your food.
Who is in charge?
People are in charge. Always.
A smart machine waits for you to ask. Then it helps. It cannot decide on its own what is best for you.
Grown-ups set the rules. You and your family stay the boss. The machine is just a helper.
Smart machines can be wrong
A smart machine is fast. But it is not always right.
Sometimes it hears the wrong word. Sometimes it gives a silly answer.
That is okay! We just check. If something seems wrong, ask a grown-up. People are good at noticing mistakes.
Want to learn more?
A smart machine uses a clever helper inside called AI. You can meet it in Meet Artificial Intelligence.
Some smart machines have a body that moves. Find out more in What Is a Robot?.
Quick quiz
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Which of these is a smart machine?
A voice helper listens and answers, so it is a smart machine.
Who is in charge of a smart machine?
People are always in charge. The machine helps us.
Can a smart machine ever be wrong?
Yes. Smart machines can make mistakes, so we check them.
FAQ
No. Smart machines are not alive. They do not feel or think like you. They follow what people tell them to do.
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