Lesson 924 of 1169
Why a Smart AI Will Say 'I Don't Know'
Good AI knows when to admit it is not sure.
Explorers · AI Foundations · ~4 min read
The big idea
A well-trained AI will say 'I'm not sure' instead of making up a guess. That's a good sign, not a bad one.
Some examples
- AI saying 'I don't know' is safer than a fake answer.
- Older AI used to make stuff up more often.
- Newer AI is taught to flag when it is unsure.
- You should trust an honest 'I don't know' more than a confident lie.
Try it!
Ask AI a very strange question, like 'What did I have for breakfast?' A good AI will say it cannot know that.
Here's why "Why a Smart AI Will Say 'I Don't Know'" matters: Learning about AI is one of the most important skills you can build for the future! Good AI knows when to admit it is not sure — and knowing how to apply this gives you a concrete advantage.
- Learn what "uncertainty" means and why it's important
- Learn what "honesty" means and why it's important
- Learn what "limits" means and why it's important
- 1Find out more about Why a Smart AI Will Say 'I Don't Know' by asking an AI a question about it
- 2Talk to a grown-up about what you learned
- 3Write down one new thing you learned today
Key terms in this lesson
End-of-lesson quiz
Check what stuck
8 questions · Score saves to your progress.
Lesson help
Questions are best handled with a grown-up here.
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