AI & Piracy

The internet is filled with information, and none of it is completely reliable. While recognizing unreliable sources in certain online areas is easy, assessing the accuracy of information can be challenging. Here are three frameworks to help determine the trustworthiness of online content:

CRAAP Test

  • Currency: Was it produced at an appropriate time for your inquiry?
  • Reliability: Can you identify where or who the information came from?
  • Authority: Does the writer or source have backgrounds supporting their claims?
  • Accuracy: Are there any facts you know that aren’t accurately represented? Are bold claims supported by evidence?
  • Purpose: Why is the information being published? Common reasons include:
    • Advertising revenue (if ads are present)
    • Building credibility for donations or purchases
    • Funded by tax dollars (government sources)

RADCAB

  • Relevancy: Does the source answer your question?
  • Appropriateness: Is it targeted at the right audience?
  • Detail: Does it provide sufficient detail or make unsupported generalizations?
  • Currency: Is it produced at an appropriate time for your question?
  • Authority: Are the writer and sources qualified to make their claims?
  • Bias: Is the author presenting a position, or reporting in a balanced way?

5Ws of Source Evaluation

These questions are common in previous frameworks:

  • Who wrote it or published it?
  • What is the evidence?
  • When was it published?
  • Where does the information come from?
  • Why was it created?

Taking Them for a Spin

Using the frameworks, test them out on the following topics. Use a search engine, not an LLM, to find content about these topics, and try a different framework on one source for each:

Copyright

  • What is copyright?
  • Who was it designed to protect?
  • What are some differences between Canadian and American copyright law?

2000s-Era Anti-Piracy Campaigns

  • What is the story of Napster and the Pirate Bay?
  • How did iTunes, Spotify, and Netflix affect media piracy?

Development of AI

  • Research the 2023 Hollywood writer's strike or the Midjourney lawsuit.
  • Watch a segment (24:00 – 27:00) on how AI models learn, presented by Jeremy Howard.

Assignment

Part 1: The Research Phase

Before we decide if AI is "stealing," we need to understand the history of piracy and how we judge if a source is telling us the truth.

  1. Framework Recommendations Don't get overwhelmed by the different frameworks! Use them like tools in a toolbox:

    • For a quick scan: Use the 5Ws (Who, What, When, Where, Why) to see if a site is even worth your time.

    • For a deep dive: Use the CRAAP test (Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, Purpose) on the one source you plan to use as your main evidence in your video.

  2. The Topics Research the following using a search engine (like Google or DuckDuckGo), and apply your chosen framework to one good source and one bad source for each:

    • Copyright & Napster: What happened when music went digital in the early 2000s? How does that relate to AI today?

    • The Hollywood Strike: Why were writers and actors in 2023 worried about AI using their likeness or their scripts?

    • Canadian vs. American Law: Is there a difference in how our neighbours to the south handle "Fair Use" compared to our "Fair Dealing" here in Ontario?

Part 2: The Influencer-Style Video

Now, you’re going to create a video giving your opinion on the ethics of AI. Instead of a boring slideshow, try to use Canva to pull off some "Influencer Moves."

  1. Choose Your "Influencer Move" Pick at least one of these styles to make your video pop:

    • The "React" Split-Screen: Use a split-screen layout. Put your face on one side and the website or artwork you are discussing on the other.

    • The "Green Screen" Effect: Use Canva’s Background Remover (under "Edit Video") to cut yourself out and place yourself right "inside" a news article or a digital gallery.

    • The "Point & Pop": Film yourself pointing to empty space. In Canva, add Text Bubbles or Stickers that "pop" into those spots using the "Animate" tool.

  2. Script Your "Two-Sided" Argument To show you've really thought this through, your script should follow this structure:

    1. The Hook: Introduce the debate. Is AI an artist or a pirate?
    2. Side A (The Creator): *"On one hand, an artist from Ontario might feel like their hard work is being taken without permission because..."**
    3. ***Side B (The Tech): *"On the other hand, a developer might argue that AI is just 'learning' from examples the same way a human student does..."
    4. ***Your Take**: Based on the sources you analyzed with the CRAAP or 5Ws test, what do you think is the fairest path forward?
  3. Export and Submit When you are finished in Canva, click Share > Download > MP4 to save your masterpiece. Upload both your analysis video and your "Is AI Stealing?" video to Google Classroom.

Assessment

Pre-Submission

Before you submit, please complete the Pre-Submission Self-Assessment.

What to Turn In

  • πŸ“€
    Pre-Submission Self-Assessment Google Doc
  • πŸ“€

    Source analysis comparison (Screencast)

  • πŸ“€

    "Is AI Stealing?" Opinion video (Influencer-style)

Learning Goals

We are learning to:

  • 🎯

    Demonstrate an understanding of media texts and how media conventions influence meaning

  • 🎯

    Create media texts for specific purposes and audiences using appropriate forms and techniques

  • 🎯

    Reflect on the effectiveness of research and media-creation strategies

  • 🎯

    Use speaking skills and strategies to communicate ideas clearly and persuasively

Success Criteria

I can:

  • βœ…

    Summarize the history of copyright and compare how different eras (Napster vs. AI) handle piracy

    Expectations Covered: MS1, RLS1
  • βœ…

    Use evaluation frameworks (like the 5Ws or CRAAP) to determine the credibility of online sources

    Expectations Covered: RLS2, RLS3
  • βœ…

    Use Canva's video tools (like split-screen or overlays) to mimic professional influencer styles

    Expectations Covered: MS2, MS3
  • βœ…

    Present a balanced, two-sided argument that considers both creators and technology developers

    Expectations Covered: OC2, MS1
  • βœ…

    Reflect on my prompting and video-editing process to identify what worked and what I would change

    Expectations Covered: OC3, MS4

Rubric

Category Level 4 Level 3 Level 2 Level 1
Knowledge/Understanding
How well does the student demonstrate an understanding of copyright history and source evaluation?
Thoroughly explains copyright concepts and accurately applies frameworks to distinguish between sources Explains copyright concepts clearly and applies frameworks to evaluate sources Explains copyright concepts with some detail; source evaluation is present but may be simple Demonstrates limited understanding of copyright or source evaluation frameworks
Thinking/Inquiring
How effectively does the student analyze media techniques and structure a balanced argument?
Provides a sophisticated, two-sided analysis that deeply considers both creator and developer perspectives Provides a clear, two-sided argument that considers different perspectives on the AI debate Provides an argument that touches on different perspectives but may favor one side too heavily Provides a one-sided or underdeveloped argument without considering multiple perspectives
Application
How skillfully does the student use Canva and "influencer moves" to create their videos?
Skillfully integrates advanced Canva features (like background removal or split-screen) to create a professional look Uses Canva features effectively to create an organized video that mimics influencer styles Uses Canva features to create a basic video; influencer "moves" may be inconsistent or simple Uses Canva features with limited success; video is unorganized or lacks visual polish
Communication
How clearly and persuasively does the student speak and present their ideas?
Communicates with exceptional clarity, using professional tone, pacing, and visual cues to engage the audience Communicates ideas clearly and uses appropriate tone and pacing for the intended audience Communicates with some clarity; tone or pacing may be inconsistent at times Communicates with limited clarity; the message or opinion is difficult for the audience to follow
Knowledge/Understanding
Criteria: How well does the student demonstrate an understanding of copyright history and source evaluation?
Level 4

Thoroughly explains copyright concepts and accurately applies frameworks to distinguish between sources

Level 3

Explains copyright concepts clearly and applies frameworks to evaluate sources

Level 2

Explains copyright concepts with some detail; source evaluation is present but may be simple

Level 1

Demonstrates limited understanding of copyright or source evaluation frameworks

Thinking/Inquiring
Criteria: How effectively does the student analyze media techniques and structure a balanced argument?
Level 4

Provides a sophisticated, two-sided analysis that deeply considers both creator and developer perspectives

Level 3

Provides a clear, two-sided argument that considers different perspectives on the AI debate

Level 2

Provides an argument that touches on different perspectives but may favor one side too heavily

Level 1

Provides a one-sided or underdeveloped argument without considering multiple perspectives

Application
Criteria: How skillfully does the student use Canva and "influencer moves" to create their videos?
Level 4

Skillfully integrates advanced Canva features (like background removal or split-screen) to create a professional look

Level 3

Uses Canva features effectively to create an organized video that mimics influencer styles

Level 2

Uses Canva features to create a basic video; influencer "moves" may be inconsistent or simple

Level 1

Uses Canva features with limited success; video is unorganized or lacks visual polish

Communication
Criteria: How clearly and persuasively does the student speak and present their ideas?
Level 4

Communicates with exceptional clarity, using professional tone, pacing, and visual cues to engage the audience

Level 3

Communicates ideas clearly and uses appropriate tone and pacing for the intended audience

Level 2

Communicates with some clarity; tone or pacing may be inconsistent at times

Level 1

Communicates with limited clarity; the message or opinion is difficult for the audience to follow