What is Amazon Future Engineer's goal?

Amazon Future Engineer aims to expand access to STEM education, particularly computer science, for young people from underserved and historically underrepresented communities.

How does voice AI work?

Voice AI technology recognizes human voices, interprets their meaning, and provides a response. It's triggered by a wake word, followed by utterances that map to a specific intent, leading to a defined response.

What are the key components of an Alexa skill?

An Alexa skill is built around a wake word to activate the device, utterances (what you say), an intent (what you want Alexa to do), and a response (what Alexa says back).

Can anyone learn to code Alexa skills?

Yes, the Alexa Skills Inventor program, in partnership with MIT, allows anyone to become an inventor by programming Alexa with simple block code, democratizing AI technology.

What careers are related to AI?

AI is creating millions of new jobs. Careers in AI span development, engineering, and various applications across many fields, requiring skills developed through programs like those offered by Amazon Future Engineer and MIT RAISE.

RAISE stands for Responsible AI for Social Empowerment and Education. It's an MIT-wide initiative focused on developing curriculum and programs to help students become AI-literate and empowered to shape an AI-powered world.

Key Moments

Day of AI 2023 | Dearborn STEM Academy with Amazon Alexa

MIT OpenCourseWare

Education3 min read30 min video

Jun 6, 2023|494 views|9

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Key Moments

TL;DR

Students learn AI basics and code Alexa skills at Dearborn STEM Academy's Day of AI event.

Key Insights

Amazon Future Engineer and MIT RAISE collaborate to provide AI literacy and STEM education access.

Day of AI aims to empower students globally with AI knowledge and critical thinking skills.

Students engaged in hands-on Alexa skill coding using MIT App Inventor.

Understanding AI is crucial for navigating the modern world and future job market.

Voice AI, including Alexa, utilizes wake words, utterances, intents, and responses.

The event highlights the importance of diversity and inclusion in the tech industry.

COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVE FOR STEM EDUCATION

The Day of AI event at Dearborn STEM Academy was a collaborative effort involving local schools, Amazon Future Engineer, and MIT Open Learning. Principal Darlene Marcano emphasized the academy's commitment to career pathways in health science, engineering, and computer science, aligning with industry standards. Victor Reinoso of Amazon Future Engineer highlighted the program's mission to increase access to STEM education for underserved communities, noting the high demand for tech jobs and the critical need to build a diverse talent pipeline.

THE IMPORTANCE OF AI LITERACY FOR ALL

Cynthia Breazeal from MIT Open Learning introduced the concept of being AI literate, explaining that it involves understanding AI's true nature, being an informed user of AI-powered tools, and thinking critically about its possibilities and potential harms. The Day of AI program, a global initiative, aims to equip students worldwide with these skills. Breazeal stressed that AI is for everyone, encouraging students to become shapers of AI rather than just passive consumers, fostering a balanced perspective on its societal impact.

EXPLORING VOICE AI AND ALEXA SKILLS

Rohit Prasad, Senior Vice President and Head Scientist of the Alexa team at Amazon, discussed the ubiquitous nature of AI and the creation of new jobs in the field. He highlighted Alexa as a prime example of democratized AI, enabling anyone to build skills. The event focused on the Alexa Skills Inventor program, allowing students to create their own Alexa skills using block code, facilitated by the partnership with MIT App Inventor. This hands-on approach aims to demystify AI and encourage innovation.

DEEPENING UNDERSTANDING THROUGH HANDS-ON CODING

The core of the event involved students participating in a coding session to create two Alexa skills. Hila, from Amazon's Community Education team, guided the students through the process, emphasizing the fun and interactive nature of learning to code. Volunteers were present to assist, ensuring a supportive learning environment. The activity was designed to transition students from simply asking Alexa questions to becoming creators of AI-powered applications, reinforcing the concept of AI as a tool for innovation.

UNDERSTANDING VOICE AI MECHANISMS

The session delved into the fundamental components of voice AI, specifically for Alexa. Students learned about the essential elements: wake words (like 'Alexa'), utterances (the phrases spoken by users), intents (the underlying goal or command), and responses (the AI's output). This was reinforced through videos and interactive exercises, including fill-in-the-blank vocabulary on worksheets. Understanding these building blocks is crucial for anyone wanting to develop AI applications.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND FUTURE INVESTMENT

Jerome Smith, Head of Community Engagement for Amazon in New England, spoke about Amazon's commitment to local communities and creating hyper-local opportunities. He emphasized the importance of understanding community needs and fostering STEM education. As a token of appreciation and continued investment, Amazon presented Dearborn STEM Academy with a $25,000 check to support their career resources, underscoring their dedication to advancing students' career development and future opportunities in tech.

Mentioned in This Episode

●Products

●Software & Apps

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●Organizations

●People Referenced

Coding Your First Alexa Skill: Key Concepts

Practical takeaways from this episode

Do This

Understand the four key components of an Alexa skill: wake word, utterances, intent, and response.

Use a wake word like 'Alexa' to activate the device.

Formulate questions or commands using various 'utterances'.

The 'intent' is the desired action or response the AI should perform.

Code your own Alexa skills using simple block code.

Explore the possibilities of AI and bend technology to your will.

Avoid This

Do not assume any word will wake up Alexa; use a programmed wake word.

Do not limit yourself to a single way of asking a question; explore different utterances.

Do not underestimate the power of coding: you can be an inventor.

Common Questions

Day of AI is a global K-12 program developed by MIT RAISE in collaboration with Amazon, aimed at providing educators and students with AI literacy to understand and navigate the AI-supported world.

Topics

Alexa Skills Amazon Future Engineer Day Of AI

Mentioned in this video

personTed Lombardi

Superintendent of College Career and Life Readiness, acknowledged for his unwavering support of the school and its work.

personJesse Solomon

Executive Director for the Boston Plan for Excellence, acknowledged as a special friend present at the event.

organizationDearborn STEM Academy

The host school for the Day of AI event, offering three career pathways and committed to building skills for students' futures.

personVictor Reynoso

Global Director of Amazon's Education Philanthropy Initiatives, including Amazon Future Engineer. He co-hosted the event and discussed the importance of STEM education access.

organizationBoston Public Schools

Partner with Amazon and Dearborn STEM Academy for the Day of AI event, receiving a $25,000 donation for career resources.

organizationEdward Kennedy Institute

Location of another Day of AI event where students will debate AI and human rights.

personRohit Prasad

Senior Vice President and Head Scientist of the Alexa Team at Amazon, who spoke about the importance of AI and democratizing technology through Alexa skills.

personJerome Smith

Head of Community Engagement at Amazon for New England, who spoke about Amazon's local community involvement and education initiatives.

personMarty Walsh

Former Mayor of Boston, mentioned by Jerome Smith in the context of the Dearborn STEM Academy building opening.

organizationMr. Laporte's class

Mentioned as a class where students are already learning about AI and building video games.

personEmily Kevin Jelly

An MIT engineer and voice AI expert who explains how voice AI works.