📮 Homework · Non-Determinism: Why AI Doesn't Always Say the Same Thing

You will ask an AI tool like ChatGPT to create a short story about a cat. Wait a minute and then ask the same question again. Compare the two stories. Discuss with a family member how the stories are similar or different and why you think that is. Write down your thoughts in a few sentences.

You will use an AI tool like ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude, or Gemini to run a two-story comparison. First, open a fresh chat and enter this prompt exactly: "Write me a short story about a dragon who wants to be a librarian." Save the story. Then open a brand-new chat and paste the same prompt again. Save the second story. Place both side by side and look closely at the dragon's name, what library they end up in, and how the story ends. Write down the similarities and differences you notice. Are they minor changes, or do the two stories tell quite different tales?

You will ask your family, 'What is your favourite fruit?' You will write down their answers. You can ask the same question to everyone. You will see if their answers are different. Talk to a parent about why they chose that fruit. Your parent can help you write if needed.

With a family member, use an AI chatbot like Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini. Paste this prompt: "Give me one sentence about a cat that lives in a library." Save the answer. Then start a brand-new chat and paste the exact same prompt again. Write both sentences on paper. Circle the words that changed. Write one sentence explaining why an AI can wobble like this even though your calculator never does.

You will roll a die 10 times and record the results. Write down each number you roll. Then, you will predict which number you think will come up the most. Finally, write a short paragraph explaining if your prediction was correct and why you think some numbers came up more often than others. A parent can help by rolling the die with you and checking your results.

You will ask a family member a question, such as 'What makes a good story?' and write down their answer. Then, you will use an AI tool like ChatGPT or Claude to ask the same question and note the different answer you receive. Compare the two answers and think about why they might be different. Discuss this with your family member if you can.

You will choose a science question, like 'How do plants grow?' Ask an AI tool (like ChatGPT or Claude) this question three times. Write down each answer you get. Then, look for what is the same in all answers and what is different. Make a list of these points. If you cannot use an AI tool, ask a family member what they think the answer is and write down their responses. Compare the answers and see which parts are consistent. Bring your lists to the next lesson.

You will roll a six-sided die thirty times and record the results. Then, you will calculate how many times each number appears. After that, imagine using an 'AI die' with many sides and think about how it would behave differently. You can discuss your findings with a parent and ask them to help you understand how probability works in both cases.

This experiment needs a platform that exposes the temperature slider. Use the OpenAI Playground (platform.openai.com/playground) or Poe (poe.com) with a bot that shows a temperature control. Consumer chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot and Gemini do NOT expose temperature to end users, so this task will not work in those apps. First, set the temperature to 0.1 and ask: "Complete this sentence: The best pizza topping is..." three times. Write down the answers. Then set the temperature to 1.5 and repeat the question three times, writing those answers too. Compare the low-temperature answers for similarity, and the high-temperature answers for creativity. Reflect on how temperature shifts the balance between safe and surprising outputs.

You will write a short paragraph reflecting on how AI can help or hinder scientific research. Consider both the advantages and disadvantages of AI's non-deterministic nature. Use examples from your own understanding or recent news articles about AI in science. Aim for 5-7 sentences. You can also create a mind map to organise your thoughts before writing.

You will ask an AI chatbot the same question three times. Record the answers you receive each time. Afterward, analyse the responses: do they remain the same or differ? Write a short paragraph reflecting on why you think the answers are consistent or varied. Consider how this relates to deterministic and stochastic algorithms. If you cannot use an AI tool, think of a question you have about a topic you studied and discuss it with a family member, noting their different answers.

You will write a short essay (300-500 words) discussing the concept of non-determinism in AI. Reflect on how temperature settings influence AI decision-making and compare it to human choices. Consider whether AI can make decisions like humans or if it merely generates pseudo-random outputs. Use examples to illustrate your points. You can choose to focus on one aspect more deeply or cover multiple points. Think critically about the implications of non-determinism in AI.

You will think of a lost carrot. You will make up three different stories about it. You can say how it got lost. You will write or draw each story. Ask a parent to help you with ideas. You can use fun words!

You will use Scratch to create a project. Add a 'pick random' block. Make a list of 5 things it can choose from. Then, ask a family member to use an AI chatbot to ask a question. Write down the answer. Compare your Scratch output and the AI answer. Which was more surprising? Why?

You will write three different story openings for 'The Last Day'. Each opening should have a unique tone, like dramatic, humorous, or mysterious. You can use an AI tool like ChatGPT or Claude to help generate ideas. After you create your openings, pick your favourite and write a short explanation of why you chose it. What made it special?

You will use a piece of paper and a coin to explore randomness. First, flip the coin ten times and record whether it lands on heads or tails. Then, imagine you have a Scratch 'pick random' block and write down what you think it might generate if you ran it ten times. Compare your coin results with your Scratch predictions. Discuss with a parent why the outcomes might differ. You can also think about how AI might behave differently from Scratch.

You will choose a question you have about a topic you are interested in. Then, you will ask an AI tool like ChatGPT or Claude for an answer. Next, you will research the same question using two reliable sources, such as books or educational websites. Compare the AI's answer with the information from your sources. Finally, write a short paragraph explaining whether you think the AI's answer was trustworthy or not and why.

You will choose two different weather apps or websites to check the forecast for your area over the next three days. Write down the temperature and weather conditions (like sunny, rainy, etc.) from each source. After three days, compare the forecasts to what actually happened. Note any differences you observed and think about why they might have occurred. You can reflect on how small changes in data can lead to different results, similar to how AI works.

You will write a short paragraph discussing whether you think our choices are truly free or influenced by past experiences. Begin by reflecting on a recent decision you made, like what to eat for breakfast. Consider how your mood or past events might have influenced that choice. Then, think about how AI makes decisions based on data. Do you think AI has free will in the same way humans do?

You will explore the unpredictability of AI-generated answers. Choose a topic you are interested in and ask an AI tool like ChatGPT or Claude a question about it. Note the answer you receive. Then, research the same question using a textbook or reliable website. Compare the two responses, noting similarities and differences. Finally, write a short paragraph discussing which answer you find more reliable and why.

You will choose a question about a topic of your interest and ask it to an AI tool like ChatGPT or Claude. Record the AI's response. Then, rephrase the question slightly and ask it again. Compare the two responses and write a short analysis of why they might differ. Consider how the phrasing and context affected the answers and what this means for trust in AI systems.

You will research the differences between pseudo-randomness and genuine randomness. Start by writing down what you understand about both concepts. Then, find one real-world example of each type of randomness in use today, explaining how they differ in application. Finally, reflect on why understanding these differences is important for AI. Aim for at least a paragraph for each type and your reflections.