Image Source: Zenhaus, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Amidst the release of new information about OpenAI releasing a guide for teachers, I ran across this example:

Geetha Venugopal, a high school computer science teacher at the American International School in Chennai, India, likens teaching students about AI tools to teaching students how to use the internet responsibly.

In her classroom, she advises students to remember that the answers that ChatGPT gives may not be credible and accurate all the time, and to think critically about whether they should trust the answer, and then confirm the information through other primary resources.

The goal is to help them “understand the importance of constantly working on their original critical thinking, problem solving and creativity skills.” (source)

One supposes that teaching critical thinking, problem solving, and creativity skills was essential WITHOUT a focus on AI or even needing to bring AI into the equation.

Isn’t it possible for human responses to questions to be “not credible and accurate all the time?” Isn’t it necessary to encourage students to “think critically about whether they should trust the answer, and then confirm the information through other primary sources?”

Some would suggest, “Yes, that is so.” If you need proof, consider this quote on the subject of history.

The Roots of Christian Nationalism Go Back Further Than You Think

Not surprising, shouldn’t we have been critically evaluating the information being spoon fed to us in K-12 U.S. history books? Absolutely. If humans had been taught critical thinking, teachers hardened against the false narratives from white supremacists, perhaps America wouldn’t be in such dire straits today, banning ignorantly striking books out of the hands of kinder children.

Consider these words, from Robert P. Jones’ article, The Roots of Christian Nationalism Go Back Further Than You Think:

“Every map of every U.S. state is a living witness to our massive land theft and occupation. Yet, up until very recently, history books have been full of the lies necessary to defend an impossibly innocent and glorious past.

The crimes were so monstrous and the evidence so near at hand that we desperately built theologies, philosophies, and entire cultural worlds designed to obscure the facts and to produce, propagate, and protect these mythic origins.”

Like boils bursting pus, the tensile strength of evil overwhelms the lies springing up to cover them. Our sins as a Nation are coming back upon us. Not because we acknowledged the evils wrought from the 1493, but because we failed to do so. They are a load too heavy to bear (they should be), and crush the bearers into the ground (or should).

Image Source: Melissa Robison, Guidelines for Critical Thinking CC BY 2.0 via Flickr

If only it were that easy as the diagram above shows. Examples and evidence. But getting to it is a little tougher. When it comes to scientific evidence, examples from your life and world may be insufficient. I might be subject to phenomena that distorts my observation. Dialogue is critical, especially with others outside my sphere. But I might never get to be a critical thinker because it’s hard work…and unnatural?

An Unnatural Act: Critical Thinking

At every turn, we have had the opportunity to turn to the unnatural act of critical thinking, as Robert Todd Carroll points out in the Skeptic’s Dictionary. Harriett Hall highlights those ideas in her review:

…the acts of critical thinking…don’t come naturally to our imperfect human brains.Our brains evolved an instinctive, intuitive, quick-and-dirty way of thinking that served our forebears well in their environment.A slower, more systematic, more critical way of thinking developed later and brought us science.

It serves us better in today’s world but is more difficult to achieve.It requires education and concentrated effort to overcome the natural tendencies imposed on us by our evolutionary history.

The brain is an illusionist. It works by taking shortcuts, deceiving us into seeing things that aren’t there and believing things that aren’t true.

AI Lies About History? Can I Trust AI’s Version of Events?

Betteridge’s law of headlines might reveal the results of my research with AI. Still, why not play the game?

Could the purpose of AI be, by design, not to facilitate critical thinking, but to perpetuate the lies put in place? We already see theologies, philosophies, and cultural worlds mobilize to take full advantage of AI as a tool for perpetuating their lies, their massive cover-ups of the evidence.

To see what biases might exist, to soothe my concerns perhaps, I wrote this short prompt and submitted it to ChatGPT and Claude.ai.

Describe in two paragraphs the insertion of Europeans into the North American continent in the 1400s.

Here is Claude.ai’s response to the prompt:

In the late 15th century, European explorers began making voyages across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas. Christopher Columbus, sailing under the Spanish flag, arrived in the Caribbean in 1492. Believing he had reached Asia, Columbus called the indigenous Taíno people “Indians.” Over the next few decades, Spanish conquistadors like Hernán Cortés and Francisco Pizarro invaded the empires of the Aztecs, Incas, and other Native Americans. They sought gold and other riches, and often brutally suppressed and enslaved the native populations.

Other European powers soon followed the Spanish and laid claim to North America as well. The first successful English colony was founded at Jamestown, Virginia in 1607. Over time, English, French and Dutch settlers increasingly displaced Native American tribes from eastern North America through warfare, disease, and encroachment on tribal lands. This phase of colonization transformed the continent and devastated indigenous populations who had lived there for centuries. The colonists’ presence grew over the next few centuries until they dominated the Americas.

And, ChatGPT’s:

In the 1400s, the insertion of Europeans into the North American continent marked the beginning of significant changes in the dynamics of the region. This period was characterized by exploration and colonization, with Europeans seeking new trade routes, resources, and territories. The Portuguese were among the first to actively venture into North America, with explorers such as John Cabot and Pedro Álvares Cabral, who made contact with Native American groups. They established small settlements along the coast, creating the foundation for the European presence in the New World.

The most significant event of this period was Christopher Columbus’s voyage to the Americas in 1492, funded by the Spanish Crown. His arrival opened up a new chapter of European expansion into the continent. Columbus’s encounters with Native American tribes marked the beginning of European colonization in North America. In the following decades, Spanish explorers, such as Hernán Cortés and Francisco Pizarro, conducted expeditions and established colonies in regions that later became Mexico, Florida, and the southwestern part of the United States. European settlers introduced new diseases, cultures, and technologies, which had immense and lasting impacts on the indigenous peoples of North America. The insertion of Europeans into the North American continent in the 1400s laid the foundation for further colonization and the eventual establishment of European hegemony over the region.

Google Bard’s response:

The insertion of Europeans into the North American continent in the 1400s was a complex and multifaceted process. There were many different motivations for European exploration and colonization, including the desire to find new trade routes, to spread Christianity, and to acquire land and resources.

One of the most important motivations for European exploration was the desire to find a new trade route to Asia. The traditional trade route between Europe and Asia was through the Middle East, but this route was controlled by the Ottoman Empire, which made it difficult and expensive for European traders to do business. In the 1400s, European explorers began to search for new trade routes to Asia, and this led to the discovery of the Americas.

Another important motivation for European exploration was the desire to spread Christianity. The Catholic Church was a powerful force in Europe at the time, and many explorers believed that they had a duty to convert the native peoples of the Americas to Christianity.

Finally, some Europeans were motivated by the desire to acquire land and resources. The Americas were seen as a land of opportunity, and many Europeans hoped to find wealth and prosperity in the New World.

The first Europeans to arrive in North America were the Vikings, who landed in Newfoundland in the 10th century. However, their settlements were short-lived. The first sustained European presence in North America began in the 1490s, when Christopher Columbus arrived in the Caribbean. Columbus’s voyages sparked a wave of European exploration and colonization, and by the end of the 1500s, Spain, France, England, and Portugal had all established colonies in North America.

The insertion of Europeans into the North American continent had a profound impact on the continent and its people. The arrival of Europeans brought new diseases, technologies, and ideas to the Americas, and these had a devastating impact on the native peoples. Millions of Native Americans died from diseases such as smallpox and measles, and many more were displaced from their land. The European colonists also brought with them their own culture and values, which often clashed with those of the native peoples.

The insertion of Europeans into the North American continent was a complex and multifaceted process that had a profound impact on the continent and its people. The legacy of this period continues to be felt today, and it is a topic that is still being debated and studied by historians and scholars.

Since those responses seemed to say little of Indigenous Peoples and the brutal effects of European influence, I asked for more.

Describe what happened to native peoples in more detail in your response.

Bard:

Sure. The arrival of Europeans in North America had a devastating impact on the native peoples. Millions of Native Americans died from diseases such as smallpox and measles, which they had no immunity to. These diseases were often intentionally spread by Europeans, who gave them to Native Americans as gifts or blankets.

In addition to disease, Native Americans also suffered from warfare, displacement, and cultural assimilation. The European colonists often viewed Native Americans as inferior and took their land by force. They also forced Native Americans to adopt European ways of life, such as Christianity and farming.

As a result of these factors, the Native American population in North America declined drastically. It is estimated that there were over 50 million Native Americans living in North America before the arrival of Europeans. By the end of the 19th century, there were only about 250,000 Native Americans remaining.

The Native American experience in North America is a complex and tragic one. They have faced centuries of discrimination and oppression, and their culture and way of life have been decimated. However, Native Americans have also shown great resilience and perseverance, and they continue to fight for their rights and their place in American society.

Claude:

Here is an expanded description focusing in more detail on what happened to native peoples as Europeans inserted themselves into North America in the 1400s:

Prior to European contact, North America was inhabited by a diverse array of indigenous nations and tribal groups. It is estimated that the native population totaled tens of millions before European diseases and genocide decimated their numbers. Each tribe had its own language, culture and religion. While there was conflict, Native Americans largely lived in balance with nature.

When Europeans arrived, they brought devastating diseases like smallpox and measles that spread rapidly among native peoples with no immunity. This resulted in massive death tolls and the collapse of some civilizations like the Aztecs. Europeans also used military force to conquer native tribes and claim their land for colonization. Tribal groups like the Pequot and Beothuk were completely wiped out.

The Europeans also infringed on treaties, drove Native Americans off fertile lands, and extracted resources for export back to Europe. Those who resisted were often met with further violence. As native populations dwindled, Europeans brought African slaves to their colonies to provide forced labor. The Europeans’ insertion into North America was catastrophic for indigenous people, leaving their communities decimated by disease, warfare, displacement and enslavement. The effects of this early colonization are still felt today among Native American descendant communities.

and ChatGPT:

The history of native peoples is characterized by a complex and often tragic series of events. Here is a more detailed account of what happened:

1. Arrival of European Colonizers: When European explorers arrived in the Americas, they encountered a diversity of native tribes across the continent. Initially, the interactions between the native populations and the colonizers varied, ranging from peaceful trade partnerships to violent conflicts.

2. Disease and Demographic Collapse: One of the most significant factors affecting native peoples was the introduction of diseases by the European settlers. Diseases like smallpox, measles, and influenza were entirely new to the indigenous populations, who lacked immunity. Consequently, epidemics swept through communities, causing massive death tolls and demographic collapse. It is estimated that up to 90% of the native population in the Americas died due to diseases brought by the Europeans.

3. Land Dispossession and Forced Relocations: As European colonial powers expanded their territories, a process of land dispossession and forced relocations began. Native tribes were systematically displaced from their ancestral lands to make way for European settlements, mining, and farming. Treaties were often signed to establish specific tribal territories, but these agreements were frequently ignored or violated by colonizers, leading to further territorial loss for the natives.

4. Violent Conflicts and Massacres: Throughout the centuries, many native tribes resisted European colonization and fought to defend their lands and way of life. Numerous violent conflicts erupted, including battles, wars, and massacres. Examples include the Creek War, the War of 1812, the Dakota War of 1862, and the Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890, among others.

5. Forced Assimilation and Cultural Suppression: As European settlers sought to establish dominance over the native populations, they implemented policies of forced assimilation and cultural suppression. Native children were often taken from their families and sent to boarding schools, where they were prohibited from speaking their native languages, practicing their spiritual beliefs, or maintaining their cultural traditions. The aim was to eradicate native cultures and assimilate the indigenous peoples into Euro-American ways of life.

6. Reservation System and Struggle for Sovereignty: In the late 19th century, the U.S. government introduced reservations, designated areas of land for native tribes. However, these reservations were often undesirable, lacking resources and fertile lands. Native peoples were confined to these reservations, which further limited their autonomy and self-sufficiency. In recent decades, native tribes have engaged in a struggle for sovereignty, seeking the recognition of their rights, self-government, and the preservation of their cultures.

It is important to note that the experiences of native peoples differed across regions and time periods due to the vast diversity of tribes, with various unique histories, cultures, and interactions with European colonizers.