The Guardian is launching “AI for the People,” a free six-week newsletter course designed to help consumers use artificial intelligence deliberately without ceding judgment, privacy or autonomy. Framed as a practical guide rather than a hype pitch, the series emphasizes four rules: keep humans in charge, verify claims, understand environmental trade-offs, and avoid sharing sensitive data. The piece argues that while AI can be misused and requires stronger regulation and corporate accountability, it can also serve as a capable assistant for decoding legal terms, organizing time, studying, cooking and fitness—so long as users maintain control. AI scholar Ethan Mollick cautions that over-reliance can erode critical thinking, echoing Umberto Eco’s long-standing warning about filtering information online. The course positions measured, transparent use—and demands for guardrails—as the pragmatic middle path between AI boosterism and backlash.
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