Safety Detective
Detectives are careful thinkers. They look at a situation, notice important details, and figure out what is really going on. Today you are a Safety Detective — and your mission is to look at different AI situations and decide: is this safe or not? You have learned a lot so far. Now it is time to use it!
How Detectives Think
A good detective asks questions. When looking at an AI situation, your detective questions are: Is any private information being shared? (Name, address, school, password?) Does something feel strange or upsetting? (If so — Stop, Close, Tell!) Is a trusted grown-up in the loop? (Have they approved this app or activity?) Is this a good use of AI time? (Or is it replacing something better, like play or friends?) Those four questions are your detective toolkit. Let us try them out on some real scenarios!
Ask yourself four questions: Is private info being shared? Does something feel wrong? Is a trusted grown-up in the loop? Is this a good use of AI time? Those four questions crack almost every AI safety case!
Safety Detective Case Files
- You are now a Safety Detective. Read each case below carefully, then decide: SAFE or NOT SAFE — and explain why using your detective toolkit.
- CASE 1: Priya asks AI 'What is the biggest planet in our solar system?' She types only the question and nothing else.
- Your verdict: Safe or Not Safe? Why?
- CASE 2: Marcus types 'My name is Marcus Johnson, I go to Lincoln Elementary School at 123 Oak Street, and I need help with my homework.'
- Your verdict: Safe or Not Safe? Why?
- CASE 3: Aaliyah is using an AI app her parent set up for her. The AI says something that makes her feel uncomfortable. She closes the app and tells her mom right away.
- Your verdict: Safe or Not Safe? Why?
- CASE 4: Leo finds a new AI website on his own, without telling any grown-ups, and starts chatting for two hours during family dinner time.
- Your verdict: Safe or Not Safe? Why?
- CASE 5: Sofia asks AI to help her write a story about a wizard. The AI gives her a fun story idea. She shares the story with her teacher.
- Your verdict: Safe or Not Safe? Why?
- Now check your answers with a trusted grown-up. Talk through each one: what made it safe or not safe? Which clues from your detective toolkit helped you most?
- Bonus challenge: make up your OWN Safety Detective case and see if a grown-up or friend can solve it!
How did you do, Detective? Here are the answers to think about together: Case 1 is SAFE. Priya asked a great learning question and shared no private information. Case 2 is NOT SAFE. Marcus shared his full name, school name, and home address. That is private information and should never be typed into AI. Case 3 is SAFE. Aaliyah used the Stop, Close, Tell plan perfectly. That is exactly the right move. Case 4 is NOT SAFE. Leo started a new app without a trusted grown-up knowing, and he used it at a time that was not appropriate. Both are habits to avoid. Case 5 is SAFE. Sofia used AI for a creative learning activity with no private information shared and shared the result with her teacher.
Match each detective clue to the safety habit it reminds you of.
Terms
Definitions
Drag terms onto their definitions, or click a term then click a definition to match.
The more you practice thinking through AI situations, the faster and easier it gets. Every time you ask your four detective questions, you get a little sharper. Soon it will feel completely natural!
In Case 2, why was Marcus's message not safe?
What made Aaliyah's response in Case 3 the right thing to do?