What Is AI Literacy?

Dean interviews Kate Arthur about what it means for a skill to become a “literacy” and why AI literacy must build on foundational reading, writing, and numeracy alongside access to networks, tools, and skills. Arthur shares her nontraditional education path, 25 years at the intersection of tech, communications, and education, and how classroom moments like students using Siri pushed her to connect literacy with AI’s growing presence. They discuss integrating AI learning across subjects rather than isolating it, the risk of focusing on tools over outcomes like critical thinking, and concerns about widening divides when basic literacy gaps persist. Arthur describes a shift from an attention economy to an attachment economy in generative AI, the ethics of human–machine relationships, and the need to democratize AI knowledge currently concentrated among a few leaders. She also recounts lobbying that secured $6M for youth skills education and emphasizes community-driven change. 00:00 What Makes Literacy 01:06 Meet Kate Arthur03:06 Kate’s Education Journey04:57 Stumbling Into AI07:09 Defining AI Literacy11:17 Frameworks And Gaps14:35 Teaching Across Subjects16:52 Tools Versus Skills19:17 Best Case AI Future22:25 Screens Bans And Balance26:37 From Attention To Attachment30:33 AI Relationship Guilt31:39 Depth Versus Shallow33:11 Humans Versus Chatbots38:50 Innovation At Risk40:41 Proudest Career Moments42:00 Lobbying For Education45:35 How Lobbying Works48:45 Leadership And Mentors54:37 Montreal Hidden Gem