Klara and the Sun

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“Debate Artificial Intelligence and Uploaded Consciousness”

In this activity, students use examples from the novel to make persuasive arguments in favor of or against artificial intelligence.

In the novel, Klara develops beyond her programming. She can analyze the world around her and draw conclusions about complicated interactions between people. Describe whether you think it is a good idea to have AI beings performing tasks in society. Create a slide presentation to illustrate your point. Use the following questions to guide your thinking:

• What considerations should be made to address the issue of job shortages?
• What rights do sentient beings, even robots, have?
• Is it ethical to transfer consciousness into AI? What about population control?
• What is a potential problem or solution for AI developing beyond human understanding?
• What tasks are robots able to perform and not perform?
• What biases may exist in robots’ programming?
• What role will social status and wealth play in the distribution of AI?
• What are the societal implications of AI?

Your responses and points should be based on your research of reputable sources. Support your opinions and feelings on these issues with real-world examples and science-based speculation by professionals in the field.

After you and your peers have presented slides and discussed or debated your points, make connections between points made and details and events in the novel.

Teaching Suggestion: Additional online research can provide students with strong support for their points and boost their confidence when they field questions during their presentations. Students may want to use each question as the basis for one slide to organize their thinking. Encourage students to point out connections between the novel and their arguments. It may be beneficial to host a formal debate between small teams with members whose views align.

Differentiation Suggestion: For students who might benefit from a more focused approach, consider permitting students to use examples strictly from the novel to support their points. Students may need to analyze the novel chronologically to organize their thinking.