About the Puzzle
What this is and why we made it
This project is part of a larger effort aimed at increasing literacy and awareness of language technology tools -- and especially conversational agents based on Large Language Models such as ChatGPT -- in the general public through games and more in general entertainment activities.
Here we have made a jigsaw puzzle, whose image is a comic-based infographic on the workings, abilities (and non abilities), and perks and perils of conversational agents like ChatGPT. By combining information provided in a creative way (great comics designed by artist Maaike Hartjes, and active engagement through an often collaborative game activity (making the puzzle) we hope to enhance the understanding and also retention of the information provided. By engaging with the fun component of making the puzzle, and having to check the picture repeatedly for an extended amount time, and possibly discuss with co-players some parts of it (like: “that piece is the bias thing”), players can acquire relevant knowledge on language models, their nature, and function in their personal lives and society at large.
All of the puzzle's components provide nuggets of information, and can be further explored through dedicated cards. They also have a life of their own, and they are used as single cards with a short description and explanation on the back, and also part of a larger card game which is currently in the making.
How the puzzle's picture came to life
The picture was created by an amazing sketch artist, Maaike Hartjes, and came to life like this, from an idea of Malvina Nissim.
Maaike was asked to join a four-hour dedicated session in Groningen where experts and non-experts talked about the basic workings of chatbots based on language models (like ChatGPT) and their perks and perils. During the session Maaike would listen and draw sketches on her digital device.
The conversation was in part guided by Malvina Nissim and Rik van Noord, computational linguists of GroNLP, the research group on Language Technology at the University of Groningen, based at the Faculty of Arts as part of CLCG, and in part very spontaneous, with topics and thoughts just popping up freely and a bit randomly. A preliminary list of topics prepared by Malvina and Rik had been shared with all participants, including Maaike, shortly before the session. Most of these topics were eventually touched upon, but the live conversation brought up new ones, too.
In about four hours of chatting, Maaike captured something like fifty sketches! She later reworked many of them, some of which went then to form the puzzle; others were left as single loose cards. Maaike's ability to transform conversational points in poignant and fun sketches is astonishing, as can be seen from the final result. These are the people who took part in the session, and thus creatively contributed to the content:
- Malvina Nissim, Professor in Computational Linguistics; passionate about everything language technology, AI literacy strategies, and games.
- Rik van Noord, Assistant professor in Humane AI, expert on Large Language Models.
- Ezgi Basar, PhD student in Computational Linguistics, bridging linguistics and language technology.
- Chris Hoffman, Digital communications technologist and founder using AI technologies for good. Crisis problem solver (and gamer).
- Maria Pilar Uribe Silva, Chilean journalist and PhD researcher in Computational Linguistics focused on sustainability, climate crisis, and corporate communications.
- Simone Sprenger, Assistant Professor in Linguistics, interested in how humans learn, store, and use language.
- Maria Lorena Flórez Rojas, Assistant Professor of Law, specialising in the intersection of law, technology, and consumer rights.
- Eedan Amit-Danhi, Assistant Professor of Digital Humanities and Media at the Centre for Media and Journalism, focusing on audiences’ experiences with the (visual) informational landscape of the digital world, with emphasis on political visuals.
- Arianna Graciotti, PhD candidate in Computer Science and Engineering, applying AI to cultural heritage.
- Maaike Hartjes, sketch artist extraordinaire.
Original idea by Malvina Nissim. Financial support partly comes from the Sectorplan funding, theme "Humane AI", Faculty of Arts, University of Groningen.