⚖️
Year 9 • Lesson 4

AI & Society

Ethics, jobs, power and accountability

AI is the most transformative technology since the internet. What role will you play?

🎯 Learning Objectives

  • Argue a position in a structured debate about AI ethics
  • Identify who is accountable when AI systems cause harm
  • Evaluate the impact of AI on employment using specific examples

📚 Key Vocabulary

Algorithmic bias
Systematic unfairness in AI outputs due to biased training data or design
Accountability
The principle that someone must be responsible for outcomes — including AI outcomes
Automation
Replacing human labour with machines or AI systems
AI governance
Laws, rules and standards that control how AI is developed and used
Augmentation
Using AI to enhance human capabilities rather than replace them

⏱️ Lesson Timing (50 mins)

🪝
Hook
5 mins

"Which jobs do you want to do when you grow up?" Students name them. Teacher shows which ones AI is already doing. Then shows new jobs AI has created. "It's more complicated than robots taking all jobs."

👨‍🏫
Teach
12 mins
  • AI and jobs: tasks automated vs. roles created — not just "jobs taken"
  • Jobs AI struggles to replace: those requiring empathy, physical dexterity, creativity and social trust
  • Algorithmic bias case studies: hiring algorithms that discriminated, facial recognition failures
  • Who is responsible when AI causes harm? Developer? Company? User?
  • AI regulation: EU AI Act, UK approach, global divergence
  • Existential risks: what do AI researchers actually worry about?
🛠️
Create
38 mins

Oxford-style debate: class divided into 3 teams arguing different positions on the motion "AI will make the world fairer for everyone." Each team researches, prepares a 3-minute opening argument, then responds to the others. Followed by written individual task: 250-word structured response to "Should the UK government slow down AI development to protect workers? Justify your position with evidence."

Tools:
Word OnlineBingBBC / Guardian
📢
Share
5 mins

Class vote: did the debate change anyone's mind? If yes, what argument was most persuasive?

🔧 Tools & Resources

🤖 AI Angle

This lesson is about AI but asks students to think as citizens, not just users.

📝 Evidence of Learning

Debate notes + 250-word written argument

📚 Homework

Interview a family member or adult about their job. Ask: could AI do any part of this? Would that be a good thing? Write up the conversation as a 200-word report.

⏱️ 25 mins

♿ Differentiation

Support (for students who need help)

Pre-researched argument cards with evidence snippets

Extension (for advanced learners)

Read the UK Government's AI White Paper and summarise the 5 core principles for responsible AI in 5 sentences.